Isn´t there too many "puckhogs" on that first line? I mean it in a positive way
WJC: Team Finland 2019 U20 WJC Roster Talk
- Thread starter ChicagoBullsFan
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FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
Nordgren-Kotkaniemi-Kakko
Vesalainen-Kupari-Tolvanen
Heponiemi-Lundell-Engberg
Virtanen-Talvitie-Ylönen
Nyman
Kokkonen-Laaksonen
Heinola-Honka
Thomson-Utunen
Latvala
Luukkonen
Lehtinen
Lindberg
I still think there is a chance to get Kotkaniemi.
Vesalainen-Kupari-Tolvanen
Heponiemi-Lundell-Engberg
Virtanen-Talvitie-Ylönen
Nyman
Kokkonen-Laaksonen
Heinola-Honka
Thomson-Utunen
Latvala
Luukkonen
Lehtinen
Lindberg
I still think there is a chance to get Kotkaniemi.
Ranta has not been great this year. I would be surprised if he makes the team unless he does much better against U20 competition than older college competition.
Well, what to say... It's great that many youngsters have had good seasons in NA, obviously, but this also means that Finland likely misses out on numerous players who were supposed to be able to play here such as Tolvanen, Vesalainen, Heiskanen, Kotkaniemi, Jokiharju etc. so it undoubtedly is going to hurt their chances.
On the other hand, this group for Finland is still looking quite talented. The defence still looks decent which is quite remarkable when we consider how many top players are missing. Finland should get a pretty decent top 4 and there shouldn't be any terribly weak defensemen, something that wouldn't have been the case just a couple of years ago even if Finland was able to use every age-eligible player.
When it comes to forwards, it's also looking somewhat good. Still, it does look a little light on the top end. After the top 4 players, there just isn't that much high end skill. It's a fair bit worse in comparison to the 2016 team for instance. A lot will depend on whether they'll get Vesalainen, for instance.
On the other hand, this group for Finland is still looking quite talented. The defence still looks decent which is quite remarkable when we consider how many top players are missing. Finland should get a pretty decent top 4 and there shouldn't be any terribly weak defensemen, something that wouldn't have been the case just a couple of years ago even if Finland was able to use every age-eligible player.
When it comes to forwards, it's also looking somewhat good. Still, it does look a little light on the top end. After the top 4 players, there just isn't that much high end skill. It's a fair bit worse in comparison to the 2016 team for instance. A lot will depend on whether they'll get Vesalainen, for instance.
Nordgren-Kotkaniemi-Kakko
Vesalainen-Kupari-Tolvanen
Heponiemi-Lundell-Engberg
Virtanen-Talvitie-Ylönen
Nyman
Kokkonen-Laaksonen
Heinola-Honka
Thomson-Utunen
Latvala
Luukkonen
Lehtinen
Lindberg
I still think there is a chance to get Kotkaniemi.
Would be incredible if we could get that roster but I have my doubts
Kobe Armstrong
Registered User
- Jul 26, 2011
- 16,563
- 7,806
Doesn't look that bad even without Tolvanen, Kotkaniemi Vesalainen and Vaakanainen.
Talvitie-Kupari-Heponiemi
Nordgren-Virtanen-Kakko
Nyman-Lundell-Ylönen
Ranta-Vainionpää-Engberg
Kokkonen-Laaksonen
Utunen-Honka
Kaskinen-Latvala
Heinola/Thomson
Luukkonen
Lehtinen
Talvitie-Kupari-Heponiemi
Nordgren-Virtanen-Kakko
Nyman-Lundell-Ylönen
Ranta-Vainionpää-Engberg
Kokkonen-Laaksonen
Utunen-Honka
Kaskinen-Latvala
Heinola/Thomson
Luukkonen
Lehtinen
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He would be a lock for the 2nd line center spot but seems very unlikely he will recover in time.
"Vesalainen" - Kupari - Heponiemi
Nyman - Talvitie - Kakko
Lundell - "Tanus" - Nordgren
Ranta - Virtanen - Engberg
Ylönen
Kokkonen - Laaksonen
Utunen - Honka
Heinola - Thomson
Anttalainen
Luukkonen
Lehtinen
Prediction:
Vesalainen will be loaned, but Tolvanen and Kotkaniemi will not participate in the tournament. Kristian Tanus will surprise everybody by making the roster over Vainionpää. Lenni Killinen and Lauri Pajuniemi (if healthy) will compete for the last available camp invite, but ultimately neither of them make it to the final roster.
Nyman - Talvitie - Kakko
Lundell - "Tanus" - Nordgren
Ranta - Virtanen - Engberg
Ylönen
Kokkonen - Laaksonen
Utunen - Honka
Heinola - Thomson
Anttalainen
Luukkonen
Lehtinen
Prediction:
Vesalainen will be loaned, but Tolvanen and Kotkaniemi will not participate in the tournament. Kristian Tanus will surprise everybody by making the roster over Vainionpää. Lenni Killinen and Lauri Pajuniemi (if healthy) will compete for the last available camp invite, but ultimately neither of them make it to the final roster.
De Montreal
help
Could it be they are saving a place for Joni Ikonen in case he's able to return from his injury? Or there's no hope?
TheGoldenJet
Registered User
They didn't announce anyone with NHL contract playing in North America on the camp roster so I wouldn't take him off just yet. I think his presence on the team would be more on the health.
There's still a long ways until the deadline for the NHL teams to lend players, plus Urho may not even be fully recovered in time.
Trilliann
Tier 2 fan
ChicagoBullsFan
Registered User
Come on don't be so negative.
I saw Sweden's U20 WJC training camp roster and it didn't look so bad as you thought.
Those defencemans what Sweden is getting are something what Finland can't match.
Sweden will have best defence in the tournament and even if / when goalies aren't so good that defence will compensate Swedish goaltending. Offence is OK for Sweden so if you guys won't be at least in semifinals i'm more than surprised.
And what comes to Finland i don't have medal expectations
If we can win our U20 WJC quarterfinal i'm happy for that.
Everything after that ( winning U20 WJC quarterfinal) is a plus.
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None of the defensmen have ever played in the U20 world juniors before, quite interesting. Still it looks alright. Heinola has been great in Liiga, a big surprise. Laaksonen great also. What i worry about is the lack of weight in the team. Average weight is 81.1, Canada and Czech has 85,62 & 84 kg. I think that Vaakanainen would have helped this team in so many ways. He has experience and bring calmness to the team. He also has a little bit more meat on him.
Kotkaniemi would be the dream, is it possibly that Montreal lend him?
I really don't want Tolvanen to get a "free spot" on the team. He needs to earn that right like everybody else. Has he played good in the AHL? 4 goals in 21 games makes me wonder. I really hope that Vesalainen joins, he will create space for our smaller forwards and he is very good around the boards. That shoot to. If none of these guys join, who will be the other three?
Chances are very slim Kotkaniemi gets loaned but you never know. What’s amazing is he would also be eligible next year
Razamanaz
Registered User
TheBeastCoast
Registered User
kelsier
Registered User
- Aug 17, 2013
- 4,280
- 1,741
Why would you have Virtanen over Lundell in the 2nd line? Just by looking at production he has 7 points in 25 games while Lundell is running with 10 in 18 games. Had the latter been born a month or so earlier he'd be draft eligible at 2019. If Kotkaniemi doesn't arrive and Kakko remains on the wing, I'd go with Lundell in the second line without blinking an eye.
Vesalainen-Kupari-Heponiemi
Kaako-Talvitie-Nordgren
Ylönen-Lundell-Ranta
Engberg-Virtanen-Moilainen
You can swap Talvite and Lundell depending on chemistry and so on
whiteout Vesalainen
Nyman-Kupari-Heponiemi
Kaako-Talvitie-Nordgren
Ylönen-Lundell-Ranta
Engberg-Virtanen-Moilainen
jj cale
Registered User
what roll are you guys on? Canada won gold last year,won the last 2 best on bests and 3 if you include the world cup.What did you guys do with your young stars last year in the juniors? you guys flamed out without even a medal.
Canada is what you hope to be, the problem is some of you are acting as if you already are without the results to back any of this big talk up.
Some of you folks need to learn some respect, you havent proven anything yet.
Walk the walk before talking the talk, humility is your best friend, don't forget that.
