WC: Team Finland 2019 men's World Championships roster talk

[FiLe]

Do you guys think Turunen will get an invite? Those that are actual from the SM liiga final won't play any more EHT games. So those that join should be no brainers. Like Leskinen for example. Don't know if Turunen fits into that category. We already have Rajala.

Turunen's been to two EHT legs this season already (although he didn't do anything memorable), and he's in a great playoffs form, so he does fit the profile of a player the coach might feel comfortable calling without any camp experience.

Whether he's a piece they feel they need is whole another question. Right now, the wingers I'd label as "skill guys" comprise of Kakko, Rajala, Kuusela (who's been pretty invisible so far), and Manninen if you put him on wing, so we're not exactly at capacity in that department yet. Leskinen is probably another add ahead of Turunen, and I guess Tolvanen might still factor in as well. So... let's say I wouldn't be surprised if he gets invited, but won't say that he will.

 

[Finnswiss]

What is the latest date for the teams to anounce their roster by the IIHF for the WC?

 

[FiLe]

What is the latest date for the teams to anounce their roster by the IIHF for the WC?

There is no hard date for a "full" roster. A team must report a roster of minimum of 15 skaters and 2 goalkeepers a day before the tournament begins. From there, they are allowed to add players up to 22 skaters and 3 goalkeepers as long as the tournament is underway (and they aren't eliminated).

 

[Albatros]

One reason why some guys don't want to come at all, if they have to postpone their holidays by more than a month only to discover in a Košice hotel room that they're not going to be registered for the tournament after all because someone else is flying in from America after the elimination of an NHL team.

 

[FiLe]

One reason why some guys don't want to come at all, if they have to postpone their holidays by more than a month only to discover in a Košice hotel room that they're not going to be registered for the tournament after all because someone else is flying in from America after the elimination of an NHL team.

The guys who might suffer this fate are the kind of guys for whom even the camp invite is a big deal.

 

[Albatros]

Last year there was Mika Niemi who first played a long KHL season and then spent extra two months with the national team only to be disregarded and sent home during the tournament. I doubt pride for having made the camp was the only feeling he got from that experience.

 

[FiLe]

I can believe Niemi wasn't happy to learn he isn't going to dress for even one game, but when you're a bottom-six KHLer with a 0.25ppg average, you're very much the kind of guy who can never just expect to walk into the Finnish national team. Now, I'm sure he would have performed just fine if he'd been given a chance to center the 4th line, but any given year we should have 4-5 guys lined up to fill any grinder role - so there's indeed some pride for Niemi for having made it even that far. Maybe not enough to warrant a commemorative plaque, but still.

Now, when a ppg KHLer like Teemu Hartikainen says "no thanks", it's more difficult to shrug off. But you can also be pretty certain it's not because he figures he might end up stuck in the taxi squad.

 

[Sanf]

Turunen - Komarov - Leskinen (I think Komarov can play C?)

Officially Komarov has retired from NT. There was some sponsorship issues back then. And granted he is 7 WHC veteran so its rather understandable. Though I think he has mentioned that he still might play in NT if really needed. And well... even if he wouldn´t bring the things we need the most to this team it would be a big thing to get him.

Filppula and Komarov would bring some leadership and could be able to take some preasure from the kids and the new guys. Doubt that they come, but I can hope.

 

[JJTT]

Lineup today

30 Kevin Lankinen
35 Jussi Olkinuora

25 Toni Rajala – 22 Arttu Ruotsalainen – 24 Kaapo Kakko
4 Mikko Lehtonen – 55 Miika Koivisto

82 Harri Pesonen – 65 Sakari Manninen – 71 Kristian Kuusela
6 Tony Sund – 28 Henri Jokiharju

41 Joel Kiviranta – 27 Eetu Luostarinen – 20 Niko Ojamäki
70 Niko Mikkola – 7 Oliwer Kaski

76 Jere Sallinen – 21 Juhani Tyrväinen – 12 Marko Anttila

Man this is going to be embarrassing, Russia basicly has their A-team playing.

 

[Finnswiss]

Lineup today

30 Kevin Lankinen
35 Jussi Olkinuora

25 Toni Rajala – 22 Arttu Ruotsalainen – 24 Kaapo Kakko
4 Mikko Lehtonen – 55 Miika Koivisto

82 Harri Pesonen – 65 Sakari Manninen – 71 Kristian Kuusela
6 Tony Sund – 28 Henri Jokiharju

41 Joel Kiviranta – 27 Eetu Luostarinen – 20 Niko Ojamäki
70 Niko Mikkola – 7 Oliwer Kaski

76 Jere Sallinen – 21 Juhani Tyrväinen – 12 Marko Anttila

Man this is going to be embarrassing, Russia basicly has their A-team playing.

Yes and Russia has Ovechkin. For me they belong to the favourites besides Sweden, Canada and Switzerland. We have a strong team too.

 

[FinnishSniper]

Yes and Russia has Ovechkin. For me they belong to the favourites besides Sweden, Canada and Switzerland. We have a strong team too.

Switzerland over the US?

 

[BigBadBoar]

Lineup today

30 Kevin Lankinen
35 Jussi Olkinuora

25 Toni Rajala – 22 Arttu Ruotsalainen – 24 Kaapo Kakko
4 Mikko Lehtonen – 55 Miika Koivisto

82 Harri Pesonen – 65 Sakari Manninen – 71 Kristian Kuusela
6 Tony Sund – 28 Henri Jokiharju

41 Joel Kiviranta – 27 Eetu Luostarinen – 20 Niko Ojamäki
70 Niko Mikkola – 7 Oliwer Kaski

76 Jere Sallinen – 21 Juhani Tyrväinen – 12 Marko Anttila

Man this is going to be embarrassing, Russia basicly has their A-team playing.

Let's see. I think it will be actually quite interesting pre-tournament game.

 

[BennsGonnaGetYou]

Strongt first period, Russia still trying to find their game. Kakko looks really good with a couple of great passes.

 

[sakux]

2-0, looking good even if it's only a pre-tournament game.

Will Heponiemi and Kupari get a chance when they're finished in liiga?

 

[Nexon]

2-0, looking good even if it's only a pre-tournament game.

Will Heponiemi and Kupari get a chance when they're finished in liiga?

You really are masters of overachieving with material you have. If Czech got same quality players we would still end up banged 5-0.

 

[BennsGonnaGetYou]

Our defensemen with a solid performance. Taking good shots and the pk is working fine. Have to give some credit to Lankinen as well, looks calm and confident. Last but not least the pp was a total different story compared to thursdays game.

 

[FiLe]

Will Heponiemi and Kupari get a chance when they're finished in liiga?

Neither has done anything so outstanding in the playoffs that it would warrant a direct invite, IMO.

 

[canswetoxic]

Seem like a pretty strong team

 

[FiLe]

Preliminary games are preliminary games, but if Finland can somehow translate this performance to the actual tournament, we might as well give Jalonen an indefinite contract.

 

[Mestaruus]

Russia will be a different beast in the WHC. Finland might face them in the game of death as RUS is in a different group. I would like to avoid facing them if possible.

Interestingly all of Finland's EHT opponents are in the other group so the chances are very high that Finland faces one of them in the game of death. Switzerland should be the 4th possible game of death opponent. The good old Switzerland, our cryptonite.

 

[JJTT]

2-0, looking good even if it's only a pre-tournament game.

Will Heponiemi and Kupari get a chance when they're finished in liiga?

Stats in the playoffs:

Heponiemi 17 games 3points
Kupari 16 games 5 points

I'd say no.

Turunen, Kivihalme, Hakanpää and Leskinen should be on added on the roster, maybe Friman or Nikkilä as well. No idea about the goalies adding both Vehviläinen and Larmi would make the goalie trio very young.

 

[FiLe]

Turunen, Kivihalme, Hakanpää and Leskinen should be on added on the roster, maybe Friman or Nikkilä as well. No idea about the goalies adding both Vehviläinen and Larmi would make the goalie trio very young.

I see at least five, maybe six d-men of the current EHT roster making the final cut, so a maximum of three d-men from the final two will be invited. All candidates come from Kärpät, IMO. Hakanpää, Kivihalme and Ohtamaa. E: Okay, I see Friman being a possibility too over Kivihalme.

Forwards, I see Leskinen as the most likely add. Turunen is the second most probable. Then I wonder if we're going to see any blindsides. Paajanen maybe, even though I don't see him adding much more than some healthy attitude.

Goalies, I think Vehviläinen will be all. I was entertaining myself with Larmi earlier too, but Olkinuora has not been half bad. So Vehviläinen/Lankinen/Olkinuora could just be the final trio.

 

[GoldOnGold]

Did Mikael Granlund decline an invitation?

 

[Svedu]

If Heponiemi and Kupari are not good enough to make it to this roster i really do think they should stay one more year in Liiga, especially Kupari. What do you guys think? If Puljujärvi was not ready, i can´t see Kupari be there yet, even if he would be a better skater or not.

I believe it´s better to leave after you can dominate in the Liiga. Mostly to add some confidence and perhaps skating and strength. I´m not sure AHL will help Heponiemi because he already has experience from smaller rinks.
A leading role in Kärpät could be much better for his future career.

Heponiemi could become a great winger for Barkov or Borgström after one more year, what would AHL really do for him at this moment?
I mean if you can't compete with names like Joel Kiviranta or take their place?

 

[Svedu]

Is there a special reason why Juha Metsola never gets the chance? His stats are great. Don't bother seeing Vehviläinen or Lankinen but i´m just wondering.