WC: Team Finland 2022 roster talk

[Mestaruus]

Truth hurts.

2012 home tournament, 4 NHL players. M.Koivu, J.Jokinen, Lehtonen and Filppula. Filppula was the only one who came to play after he's team was eliminated from the playoffs.

2013 somewhat home tournament, 1 NHL player and 1 NHL/AHL player. Korpikoski and Granlund, and Granlund came after his AHL team was eliminated from the playoffs.

2022 home tournament, 3(or 4) NHL players, Armia, Jokiharju, Lammikko(and Säteri). The "NHL players home tournament quota" is filled.

I think that you can't compare those tournaments to 2022, because we got many more players in the playoffs now. At the same time if it's true that Jalonen & Lehtinen have asked many if not all of the star caliber players about their interest of joining already and for example in 2012 they didn't ask those players in advance, then in 2012 that lowered the odds of them coming. If in 2022 they already made a promise and commitment to join, that might increase their chance of coming.

Btw I like the fact that Lehtinen is a Dallas Stars legend. He has good connections to that team and he probably knows a lot about those Dallas Stars players' interests about wanting to join the WHC. It could go the other way too. Dallas Stars leadership respects Lehtinen enough to get Heiskanen's, Hintz' or Lindell's exit video interviews and that kind of stuff done quicker as a favor and as a sign of respect for Lehtinen.

 

[FinPanda]

I think that you can't compare those tournaments to 2022, because we got many more players in the playoffs now. At the same time if it's true that Jalonen & Lehtinen have asked many if not all of the star caliber players about their interest of joining arleady and for example in 2012 they didn't ask those players in advance, then in 2012 that lowered the odds of them coming. If in 2022 they already made a promise and commitment to join, that might increase their chance of coming.

Btw I like the fact that Lehtinen is a Dallas Stars legend. He has good connections to that team and he probably knows a lot about those Dallas Star players' interests. It could go the other way too. Dallas Stars leadership respects Lehtinen enough to get Heiskanen's, Hintz' or Lindell exit video interviews and that kind of stuff done quicker as a favor to Lehtinen.

And you can count how many our current NHL players have been drafted before 2013. The amount is quite small. Not comparable.

 

[jaro]

I think team finland dont need an A player NHL like Rantanen Barkov or Aho. Finnish system is not about attack, every player have to be great skater and defensive player. It is all about system just look on finale liiga, or succes of finish hockey of last years. It is very boring but brutal beneficial hockey. With this system you can beat much stronger oponents.

 

[Mestaruus]

I think team finland dont need an A player NHL like Rantanen Barkov or Aho. Finnish system is not about attack, every player have to be great skater and defensive player. It is all about system just look on finale liiga, or succes of finish hockey of last years. It is very boring but brutal beneficial hockey. With this system you can beat much stronger oponents.

I think that you are right but improving the power play with some stars/superstars would help. In the Olympics Finland actually had bad PP & PK in the last games of the tournament and they still won gold. If those special teams don't work, then there better be a goalie on fire on the net and dominand 5on5 play, which Finland had. Those are 1-0 type games.

I'm personally tired of the 1-0 heart attack wins. They are wins, but can't they ever win against a top team by more than 1 goal margin. For that reason I'd want some star power (Dallas Stars power is fine too).

 

[Mestaruus]

On this video Jere Lehtinen is talking about Patrik Laine. So this confirms that Laine is genuinely interested. Laine wasn't just talking and pretending about his interest. Laine will tell about his decision this week. I'm quite optimistic, because maybe Laine just wanted to skip those EHT games and at the same time check how strong the team could be and how big need for him is in the team.

Kovia suomalaisnimiä jää ulos MM-kisoista – Jere Lehtinen kertoo syyt

Moni laatupelaaja jää ulos MM-kisajoukkueesta.

www.iltalehti.fi

Also Armia got his exit interview with Montreal done faster than it was said yesterday and he got his health check by Montreal's doctor done. I read yesterday that Armia would have to travel back to Canada to do those things, but apparently they are already out of the way. Him and his GF were expecting a child so I dunno about that situation if that will be some kind of obstacle. He would be in Finland after all so distance would be short for getting to his GF.

 

[FinPanda]

Based on everyrhing I've seen.. Laine will be on the team if he passes his health check.

I don't see Kekäläinen being on his way if he wants to play in his home city.

 

[Mestaruus]

Based on everyrhing I've seen.. Laine will be on the team if he passes his health check.

I don't see Kekäläinen being on his way if he wants to play in his home city.

My previously thought 5% chance of Laine joining jumps to a bit over 50% chance based on these interviews of Laine & Lehtinen. That's still far from 100%.

Btw Saros won't be playing in Nashville's first playoff game and he might not play in the entire series and the opponent is offensively loaded Colorado. #2 team of the regular season, so good luck to Nashville. That series will be 4-0 or 4-1. So give us Granlund. I don't think that Lehtinen & Jalonen will take Tolvanen and I wouldn't. They should save that slot for some other player because there will be more and better players available from the playoffs and there might be only 2-4 slots available and Granny takes 1 of those slots unless he has some injury or feels too tired.

Granlund has had to do so much work for the entire season with insane minutes. He has had to do #1 center job, most minutes, pretty much most PK and most PP out of their forwards. The same way they played Saros for too many games to the point of him getting injured. Injury is always an unlucky thing but they played with the numbers and knew the risks. I guess that they had no choice because their spot in the playoffs was so close call. Now Nashville has to pay for it with a 4-0 or 4-1 loss to Colorado. That's my guess.

 

[SantosHalper]

think that you can't compare those tournaments to 2022, because we got many more players in the playoffs now. At the same time if it's true that Jalonen & Lehtinen have asked many if not all of the star caliber players about their interest of joining already and for example in 2012 they didn't ask those players in advance, then in 2012 that lowered the odds of them coming. If in 2022 they already made a promise and commitment to join, that might increase their chance of coming.

Finland has way more NHL players now than in 2012/2013. Most of our current NHL'ers weren't even drafted yet. Barkov 2013; Laine 2016, Aho 2015 etc

Finnish hockey is in a completely different situation than 10 years ago.

2011-2012 regular season ended April 7th and the home tournament started May 4th. Finnish players who's season ended in regular season.
Miikka Kiprusoff, signed until 2013
Olli Jokinen, UFA and retired from the NT but returned in action in Sochi and Minsk.
Niklas Hagman, UFA, signed KHL deal in 12.7.2012
Ville Leino, signed until 2017
Antti Miettinen, signed until 2013
Tuomo Ruutu, re-signed 4 year deal in February 2012 and was signed until 2016
Niklas Bäckström, signed until 2013
Toni Lydman, signed until 2013
Saku Koivu, UFA
Teemu Selänne, UFA
Sami Salo, UFA
Petteri Nokelainen, UFA
Lennart Petrell, RFA?
Joni Pitkänen, injured
----------------------
Sean Bergenheim, signed until 2015, eliminated in the 1st round(April 26)

2012-2013 regular season ended April 28th and the somewhat home tournament started May 3rd. Finnish players who's season ended in regular season.
Antti Miettinen, UFA, signed NLA deal in 22.7.2013
Olli Jokinen, signed until 2014, retired from the NT but returned in action in Sochi and Minsk.
Kimmo Timonen, re-signed 1 year deal in February 2013 and was then signed until 2014
Kari Lehtonen, re-signed 5 year deal in September 2012 and was then signed until 2018
Lennart Petrell, UFA, signed NLA deal in 14.8.2013
Miikka Kiprusoff, retired 9.9.2013
Pekka Rinne, signed until 2019
Sami Salo, signed until 2014
Harri Pesonen was in AHL player at the time. Tuomo Ruutu, Ville Leino and Joni Pitkänen was injured at the time
------------------
Teemu Selänne, UFA eliminated from the playoffs May 12
Saku Koivu, -//-
Toni Lydman, retired 29.8.2013, eliminated from the playoffs May 12
Sami Vatanen, signed until 2014, eliminated from the playoffs May 12
Niklas Bäckström, UFA, eliminated from the playoffs May 9
Mikko Koivu, signed until 2017, eliminated from the playoffs May 9
Leo Komarov, RFA, eliminated from the playoffs May 13
Jesse Joensuu, UFA, eliminated from the playoffs May 11

Plenty of NHL talent available, but none of them choose to come and play in the home tournament. Not bad comparison imo.

f I cared more about winning than about money, I would naturally take the 1 million deal and leave more cap space for my team. But very few players do that because money is what makes the world go round.

Im sure you would . By using this logic Thornton and Chara are the only players who are playing for win

 

[ijuka]

I think team finland dont need an A player NHL like Rantanen Barkov or Aho. Finnish system is not about attack, every player have to be great skater and defensive player. It is all about system just look on finale liiga, or succes of finish hockey of last years. It is very boring but brutal beneficial hockey. With this system you can beat much stronger oponents.

Scoring has always been a struggle for team Finland, so of course they could use players who bring scoring. Rantanen, Barkov and Aho also are far better at defense than any Liiga player.

 

[FinPanda]

2011-2012 regular season ended April 7th and the home tournament started May 4th. Finnish players who's season ended in regular season.
Miikka Kiprusoff, signed until 2013
Olli Jokinen, UFA and retired from the NT but returned in action in Sochi and Minsk.
Niklas Hagman, UFA, signed KHL deal in 12.7.2012
Ville Leino, signed until 2017
Antti Miettinen, signed until 2013
Tuomo Ruutu, re-signed 4 year deal in February 2012 and was signed until 2016
Niklas Bäckström, signed until 2013
Toni Lydman, signed until 2013
Saku Koivu, UFA
Teemu Selänne, UFA
Sami Salo, UFA
Petteri Nokelainen, UFA
Lennart Petrell, RFA?
Joni Pitkänen, injured
----------------------
Sean Bergenheim, signed until 2015, eliminated in the 1st round(April 26)

2012-2013 regular season ended April 28th and the somewhat home tournament started May 3rd. Finnish players who's season ended in regular season.
Antti Miettinen, UFA, signed NLA deal in 22.7.2013
Olli Jokinen, signed until 2014, retired from the NT but returned in action in Sochi and Minsk.
Kimmo Timonen, re-signed 1 year deal in February 2013 and was then signed until 2014
Kari Lehtonen, re-signed 5 year deal in September 2012 and was then signed until 2018
Lennart Petrell, UFA, signed NLA deal in 14.8.2013
Miikka Kiprusoff, retired 9.9.2013
Pekka Rinne, signed until 2019
Sami Salo, signed until 2014
Harri Pesonen was in AHL player at the time. Tuomo Ruutu, Ville Leino and Joni Pitkänen was injured at the time
------------------
Teemu Selänne, UFA eliminated from the playoffs May 12
Saku Koivu, -//-
Toni Lydman, retired 29.8.2013, eliminated from the playoffs May 12
Sami Vatanen, signed until 2014, eliminated from the playoffs May 12
Niklas Bäckström, UFA, eliminated from the playoffs May 9
Mikko Koivu, signed until 2017, eliminated from the playoffs May 9
Leo Komarov, RFA, eliminated from the playoffs May 13
Jesse Joensuu, UFA, eliminated from the playoffs May 11

Plenty of NHL talent available, but none of them choose to come and play in the home tournament. Not bad comparison imo.

Im sure you would . By using this logic Thornton and Chara are the only players who are playing for win

Most of them were on their last seasons in the NHL. Idk how thats plenty. I think Lehtonen and Rinne were the only decent ones.. Young Vatanen as well. Now almost all our NHL players are 30 or under. They have much more to offer.

 

[Mestaruus]

2011-2012 regular season ended April 7th and the home tournament started May 4th. Finnish players who's season ended in regular season.
Miikka Kiprusoff, signed until 2013
Olli Jokinen, UFA and retired from the NT but returned in action in Sochi and Minsk.
Niklas Hagman, UFA, signed KHL deal in 12.7.2012
Ville Leino, signed until 2017
Antti Miettinen, signed until 2013
Tuomo Ruutu, re-signed 4 year deal in February 2012 and was signed until 2016
Niklas Bäckström, signed until 2013
Toni Lydman, signed until 2013
Saku Koivu, UFA
Teemu Selänne, UFA
Sami Salo, UFA
Petteri Nokelainen, UFA
Lennart Petrell, RFA?
Joni Pitkänen, injured
----------------------
Sean Bergenheim, signed until 2015, eliminated in the 1st round(April 26)

2012-2013 regular season ended April 28th and the somewhat home tournament started May 3rd. Finnish players who's season ended in regular season.
Antti Miettinen, UFA, signed NLA deal in 22.7.2013
Olli Jokinen, signed until 2014, retired from the NT but returned in action in Sochi and Minsk.
Kimmo Timonen, re-signed 1 year deal in February 2013 and was then signed until 2014
Kari Lehtonen, re-signed 5 year deal in September 2012 and was then signed until 2018
Lennart Petrell, UFA, signed NLA deal in 14.8.2013
Miikka Kiprusoff, retired 9.9.2013
Pekka Rinne, signed until 2019
Sami Salo, signed until 2014
Harri Pesonen was in AHL player at the time. Tuomo Ruutu, Ville Leino and Joni Pitkänen was injured at the time
------------------
Teemu Selänne, UFA eliminated from the playoffs May 12
Saku Koivu, -//-
Toni Lydman, retired 29.8.2013, eliminated from the playoffs May 12
Sami Vatanen, signed until 2014, eliminated from the playoffs May 12
Niklas Bäckström, UFA, eliminated from the playoffs May 9
Mikko Koivu, signed until 2017, eliminated from the playoffs May 9
Leo Komarov, RFA, eliminated from the playoffs May 13
Jesse Joensuu, UFA, eliminated from the playoffs May 11

I see a lot of UFAs there on that 2011-2012 list of players. We got a lot of potential non UFA dropouts coming from the first round of playoffs round 1 now in 2022, which includes possibly some fast ending series as well. Were those the double home tournament years split with Sweden? I think that players knew that and they thought that they can come next year because it's another home tournament, so maybe it didn't feel so special for them.

The times are different now you know. Right now we are in a weird spot where NHL players haven't had the chance to play in the Olympics in a very long time and World Cups happen so rarely. You have to take this into account. This home tournament in their minds is most likely equivalent to a best on best tournament or at least close to it. This is a special one.

In my opinion overall the situation seems a lot better now but let's see how fast these series actually end. It will be so interesting to see how much risk Jalonen is willing to take in selecting and waiting for some of our best NHL players. Jalonen usually doesn't take risks, but it seems like the chance for Jalonen taking some risks now is better than ever and I kind of like it. I want to see more of our very best players playing for team Finland because every WHC we get so little of them and all this BS with no NHL players in the Olympics and no World Cups happening and all this stuff with Covid-19 canceling everything which is in the past for now. So it's time to take some risk and wait for our best players for a little bit longer than Jalonen usually does. I'm feeling that Jalonen wants to coach some of our best players. I'm excited to see how this plays out.

 

[FiLe]

On this video Jere Lehtinen is talking about Patrik Laine.

Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but it's almost as if there was a little smile in Lehtinen's voice when he answered (or non-answered) the question about Laine's contract situation.

Far too early to celebrate, of course. We'll see. But this sure gave a little hope.

 

[Mestaruus]

My over optimistic view is this. It's possible but not likely:

May 9:
Colorado vs Nashville (no Saros) - 4-0
Calgary vs Dallas - 4-0

May 13 - FIN vs NOR
May 14 - FIN vs LAT
May 16 - FIN vs USA

Nashville & Dallas players would have one week to arrive for the USA game which is the first real test. I'm pretty sure that they could be there even for the first game against Norway.

Laine-Mi.Granlund-Hintz
Filppula-Manninen-Hartikainen
Armia-Lammikko-Aaltonen/Kiviranta
Mäenalanen-Björninen-Anttila

Heiskanen-Lindell
Lehtonen-Jokiharju
Leskinen-Vatanen
Ohtamaa-Hakanpää

Still two more slots left. Check if Barkov, Rantanen or Aho+TT would become available. Even if it it goes to game 7.

I remind you that this is optimistic view so players in the WHC squad didn't get injured and didn't get ill, so we didn't need to stamp the last two tournament passports, thus leaving 2 slots open.

How the dates would align for NHL PO Round 1 game 7 series:

May 14-15 - Game 7 - NHL.

WHC - Finland's games - dates:
May 13 - Norway
MAY 14 - Latvia
MAY 16 - USA
MAY 18 - Sweden
MAY 20 - GBR
MAY 21 - Austria
MAY 24 - Czech

We could have few of Barkov, Lundell/Haula, Aho, TT for Sweden game or for GBR game.

So we go to WHC playoffs with:

Heiskanen-Lindell
Lehtonen-Jokiharju
Leskinen-Vatanen
Ohtamaa-Hakanpää

Laine-Aho-Teräväinen
Hintz-Mi.Granlund-Filppula
Armia-Manninen-Hartikainen
Lammikko-Björninen-Anttila

or

Laine-Barkov-Lundell/Haula
Hintz-Mi.Granlund-Filppula
Armia-Manninen-Hartikainen
Lammikko-Björninen-Anttila

Anttila of course stays in the line up to secure that winning touch & gold. Gold winning goal will be scored by Anttila, not by anyone else of course .

Of course Finland needs to make it to the top-4 of the group. I see it so that waiting for NHL round 1 exit players won't ruin our chances to make it to the quarter finals. I don't think that it will mess up with team chemistry so much that Finland wouldn't place on top-4 of the group. The only scary teams in the other group are Canada and Switzerland and I simply would say that give any opponent in the QF. We got the better coaching and we don't lose in player material and we have the home crowd so bring anything in the QF.

It's all just an over optimistic view so don't kill me for suggesting such crazy line ups lol, but we could have this. It's not impossible.

 

[SantosHalper]

Most of them were on their last seasons in the NHL. Idk how thats plenty. I think Lehtonen and Rinne were the only decent ones.. Young Vatanen as well. Now almost all our NHL players are 30 or under. They have much more to offer.

And most of them never played in a home WHC tournament, and i haven't heard anyone regretting it.

Were those the double home tournament years split with Sweden? I think that players knew that and they thought that they can come next year because it's another home tournament, so maybe it didn't feel so special for them.

The times are different now you know. Right now we are in a weird spot where NHL players haven't had the chance to play in the Olympics in a very long time and World Cups happen so rarely. You have to take this into account. This home tournament in their minds is most likely equivalent to a best on best tournament or at least close to it. This is a special on

Yes, it was the splitted tournaments.

"so maybe it didn't feel so special for them." this is exactly what im trying to say, there's a WHC tournament every year. Only the venue changes. For the players who's NHL season ended in the regular season, WHC is good place to finish the season with better terms and get a good start for the next year.

But the players who got to play in the playoffs but was eliminated, are usually too disappointed and they might feel that there's a same tournament next year, why bother this year. Home tournament splitted or not, didn't draw much 10 years ago. And the NT draws even less in any other tournaments, what we've seen in past 4 years.

It will be so interesting to see how much risk Jalonen is willing to take in selecting and waiting for some of our best NHL players.

Jalonen has said he waits, and im sure he will keep 3 spots open for a while.

 

[Mestaruus]

"so maybe it didn't feel so special for them." this is exactly what im trying to say, there's a WHC tournament every year. Only the venue changes. For the players who's NHL season ended in the regular season, WHC is good place to finish the season with better terms and get a good start for the next year.

But the players who got to play in the playoffs but was eliminated, are usually too disappointed and they might feel that there's a same tournament next year, why bother this year. Home tournament splitted or not, didn't draw much 10 years ago. And the NT draws even less in any other tournaments, what we've seen in past 4 years.

Well we simply disagree with that. I don't think that this is just any tournament for them. Venue changes and it will be harder to get some of these players on other years when it's not Finland's home tournament.

Disappointment thing is very possible and we will just have to see how that turns out. It's kind of a thing of luck or it's maybe better to say that it's hard for us to predict how their mood will be and I wouldn't compare it to other years, because there are so many variables that possibly affected their decisions in 2012 or 2013 compared to now/2022. One of those variables was that there wasn't a lack of best on best tournaments back then.

Back on the players being disappointed after their NHL PO series end. They will be disappointed but will they be disappointed enough to skip a home WHC or will they be injured. We will just have to wait and see. It could be that all of them are disappointed and none of them want to join or the opposite, all of them would come regardless of their disappointment, because it's a home tournament, a familiar head coach to most, they would love to put on a show for the Finnish live audience after all these cancelations of the Olympics for NHL players and Covid-19 stuff ruining much more than that.

 

[SantosHalper]

Well we simply disagree with that.

Let's agree to disagree then. My opinion is that Laine is the only one who could still come and that Jalonen will keep, 2 forward spots and 1 spot for a defenseman open. But i don't believe that anyone from the NHL playoffs joins the team.

 

[FinPanda]

Let's agree to disagree then. My opinion is that Laine is the only one who could still come and that Jalonen will keep, 2 forward spots and 1 spot for a defenseman open. But i don't believe that anyone from the NHL playoffs joins the team.

I believe we will get 1-2 players from the playoffs. Time will tell who is right.

 

[Mestaruus]

I believe we will get 1-2 players from the playoffs. Time will tell who is right.

I'll say that minimum we get 3 players + Laine, but I'll go optimistic and say 5 players + Laine. My view on this changed to more positive when I heard Jalonen comment about them checking how the series will go. I thought that he will just lock the team and not really check anything. My read is that they want a more stacked team than we are used to under Jalonen. There's a chance for that so Jalonen will gamble more than he normally does with the roster.

3 players from Nashville-Colorado and Dallas-Calgary series.

2 more from other series. Even from 4-2 result series. If there's a real superstar available from a game 7 series, then that will be the interesting part. Would Jalonen wait then. He kinda implied that maybe he wouldn't wait, but if there are 2 spots still not registered for the tournament, the temptation to get some superstar could be too big.

Hintz & Granny - one of them joins = 1

Heiskanen + one of Lindell/Hakanpää joins = 2

Barkov, Lundell, Määttä, Puljujärvi, Lundell, Barkov, Rantanen, Lehkonen, Haula = 2 will join

=5

+Laine will be playing in the Norway game.

As I said in my long post I made some time ago, a 4-0 series can mean that some players like Mi.Granlund, Hintz, Heiskanen, Lindell, Hakanpää can already be with the team before the Norway game and if they miss Norway game that's fine. One game with 6 defenders is completely fine against a team that we won't lose against. It's completely up to Jalonen if he wants a super stacked team or if he does what he usually does and locks the team earlier. I got a weird feeling that this time we got a Jalonen who wants to gamble a bit more. He wants to coach the best players.

Latvia on the second game will be harder than Norway. Also I'll say that maybe Tolvanen and Kiviranta level players would be the cut off where they rather keep some of the Olympic core players instead, so Tolvanen and Kiviranta can't take their spots. Although they are Jalonen familiars too, I think that Jalonen would reward some players for being on the practice camp long enough instead of inviting Tolvanen or Kiviranta.

 

[FinPanda]

I understoof that they won't wait if it goes to 7th game. So lets hope for 4-0 and 4-1 series.

 

[Mestaruus]

I understoof that they won't wait if it goes to 7th game. So lets hope for 4-0 and 4-1 series.

You know what could be funny. Maybe Laine is doing the same thing. His decision could be based on if he gets some friends or nice line mates from the NHL, such as Granlund or his fellow Tampere forward Hintz from 2016 U20 team or someone else.

Laine's wet dream would be for Florida panthers to go out fast. He wouldn't say no to playing with Barkov lol.

He may join regardless though. My feeling now is that he joins regardless. He just didn't want to play in those EHT games.

 

[FiLe]

Here's my "five more minutes, mom" -scenario which could happen if Dallas and Nashville get swept quickly:

Säteri (Olkinuora)

Heiskanen-Jokiharju
Lindell-Vatanen
Lehtonen-Pokka
Ohtamaa-Hietanen

Laine-Hintz-MiG
Filppula-Manninen-Hartikainen
Kiviranta-Lammikko-Armia
Mäenalanen-Björninen-Anttila

Reality, however, is likely something between this and the lineup I posted earlier.

 

[Mestaruus]

Here's my "five more minutes, mom" -scenario which could happen if Dallas and Nashville get swept quickly:

Säteri (Olkinuora)

Heiskanen-Jokiharju
Lindell-Vatanen
Lehtonen-Pokka
Ohtamaa-Hietanen

Laine-Hintz-MiG
Filppula-Manninen-Hartikainen
Kiviranta-Lammikko-Armia
Mäenalanen-Björninen-Anttila

Reality, however, is likely something between this and the lineup I posted earlier.

Well if it happened, I'd be doubtful about Kiviranta getting an invite who didn't play that much lately. Aaltonen, Pesonen or Innala in his place I guess. They would get rewarded for being on the camp, because Kiviranta isn't that much better than them.

On another topic, Otto Leskinen has some health problems. He might still play in some of the EHT games though. It might affect on how he plays though.

 

[FiLe]

Well if it happened, I'd be doubtful about Kiviranta getting an invite who didn't play that much lately. Aaltonen, Pesonen or Innala in his place I guess. They would get rewarded for being on the camp, because Kiviranta isn't that much better than them.

He is a Jalonen familiar from 2019 and has played about as much as Armia this season.

This being said, with that speculative lineup essentially split into two "1st" lines and two "4th" lines, it might be a bit tricky to build two PP units out of it - unless, of course you run it last generation style with two d-men. Those D corps certainly would have more than enough talent for it.

 

[Mestaruus]

He is a Jalonen familiar from 2019 and has played about as much as Armia this season.

This being said, with that speculative lineup essentially split into two "1st" lines and two "4th" lines, it might be a bit tricky to build two PP units out of it - unless, of course you run it last generation style with two d-men. Those D corps certainly would have more than enough talent for it.

Your not saying that Kiviranta is Armia's level of a player right? Also it's much different when Armia will most likely play some EHT games and Kiviranta will not, while at the same time being a worse player than Armia, given any situation at least in my opinion. I like Armia over him on PP, PK and even strength but you probably didn't mean that he's better or same level as Armia. Armia had a down season in producing points, but I see Armia's down season still as good as what Kiviranta can offer.

But in the end there could be room for both if Jalonen so desires and if that Dallas series will indeed end fast. That would suck for Pesonen, Aaltonen or Innala for being on the camp and doing fairly well though.

Maybe the other PP unit in your line up would feature 2 defenders. We would have plenty of good ones for that and then other unit could have 4 forwards. Armia as a mask man could be all right. Actually maybe have Laine on both units if you ask me. That's sort of what that Swedish U18 team did succesfully. They let 2 players play all of their power plays. I kind of liked to see something different than normal for once when they did that.

 

[FinPanda]

We will hear about Laine by the end of the week, hopefully he is indeed in the team.