WC: Team Finland 2022 roster talk

[FiLe]

Personally I'm not even asking to get many star caliber forwards. It's very realistic that at least 2 of them would come after the 1st round of playoffs is done. Hopefully the door is kept open for a while. Jalonen & Lehtinen will probably check if some series will end fast (4-0/4-1) and if not they might lock up the team.

Realistically I think that Jalonen won't leave Aaltonen out. In my last post I suggested a line up without him but that was a critical view to free up as many slots as possible for possible NHL upgrades. Aaltonen was one of the best players for the first games of the Olympic tournament but his offensive production got a bit worse later on. He was solid defensively though.

Jalonen said earlier that he won't be holding any more than 1-2 spots open for first-round additions.

Regarding Aaltonen's performance in the olympics: while he was good individually, his production probably suffered a little due to his linemates. I've got nothing bad to say about Nättinen and Komarov, who are reliable at what they do, but they aren't exactly offensive powerhouses. So Aaltonen was basically reduced to playing as an utility forward alongside them. Maybe Jalonen could have inserted Ojamäki and/or Rajala back into the lineup to get more out of Aaltonen - but as I said, it was too late to experiment, so our coach just decided to run with what he had, trust that there's at least 2-3 goals a game in his present lineup and that his defensive system tighter than a nun's [redacted] would take care of the rest.

Now, unless the fates drop a bona fide top shelf playmaker in the vein of MiG/Barkov/Aho into our laps, Aaltonen is our best option for the role and should be paired with whomever we expect to be our main scoring threat aside from the GMH line.

 

[Mestaruus]

Jalonen said earlier that he won't be holding any more than 1-2 spots open for first-round additions.

Regarding Aaltonen's performance in the olympics: while he was good individually, his production probably suffered a little due to his linemates. I've got nothing bad to say about Nättinen and Komarov, who are reliable at what they do, but they aren't exactly offensive powerhouses. So Aaltonen was basically reduced to playing as an utility forward alongside them. Maybe Jalonen could have inserted Ojamäki and/or Rajala back into the lineup to get more out of Aaltonen - but as I said, it was too late to experiment, so our coach just decided to run with what he had, trust that there's at least 2-3 goals a game in his present lineup and that his defensive system tighter than a nun's [redacted] would take care of the rest.

Now, unless the fates drop a bona fide top shelf playmaker in the vein of MiG/Barkov/Aho into our laps, Aaltonen is our best option for the role and should be paired with whomever we expect to be our main scoring threat aside from the GMH line.

The case Ojamäki is an interesting case indeed. As KHL's leading scorer of the ongoing season he has the potential to be a monster in this upcoming tournament if given a chance. Considering that this WHC team should be a bit stronger roster wise than our Olympic team and Ojamäki got sidelined there, that fact doesn't make it any easier for Ojamäki to break into the active line up nor the fact that it's been a long time since he last played some real games.

Ojamäki's only chance is to impress Jalonen in the practice games before the WHC tournament. I think that we can say that he's a well rounded forward but goals are expected of him and if he can't showcase that in the practice games then Jalonen has other options than him.

It could be that if Laine doesn't come then Ojamäki's stocks of being in the active line up would rise. Ojamäki could be a selection to the team regardless though. The tournament consists of some weak teams as well and it wouldn't surprise me if Jalonen cycles the players a bit.

 

[Puck Dogg]

I'm surprised that Liiga/C-More studio projected Savinainen to be close for making it. He's 36 already and wasn't part of the Olympic gold team.

 

[FiLe]

Ojamäki's only chance is to impress Jalonen in the practice games before the WHC tournament. I think that we can say that he's a well rounded forward but goals are expected of him and if he can't showcase that in the practice games then Jalonen has other options than him.

This is all stuff that goes without saying. My point mostly is that thanks to the unusually long preparation time and plenty of preliminaries, Jalonen can afford to give Ojamäki some extra rope if the goals don't come immediately. Which increases the odds of eventual success.

Also, as I've explained like twice already, Ojamäki getting sidelined in Beijing was largely not, if at all, his own fault. Once more, Covid scares messed things up some and Komarov ended up forcing his way into the lineup. Can't of course say Jalonen made a bad call in benching Ojamäki, given the final result, but there's little reason to assume Ojamäki couldn't have been an effective scorer if given the chance, especially together with his buddy Aaltonen. Now he'll get another chance here.

Regardless of what happens with Ojamäki, Aaltonen should be in the final lineup either way, unless we somehow get a ton of established NHL forwards willing to join.

 

[JJTT]

Interesting to see if Anttila is going to make it, this Ilves team alone has 6 better forwards than him. Jalonen surely can't keep picking him forever?

 

[Lartsaman]

Interesting to see if Anttila is going to make it, this Ilves team alone has 6 better forwards than him. Jalonen surely can't keep picking him forever?

He will most definitely be there.

 

[karhukissa]

One thing is for sure, this team doesn't need as much NHL help as other teams, they can basically just continue where they left in the Olympics. Everything is clear.

But like we saw at the Olympics, sometimes those games were too close. That's why if guys like Hintz or Laine would join, i'd be ready to organize a world championship parade already. Olympic core + individual x-factor from the NHL = key to success.

 

[FiLe]

Interesting to see if Anttila is going to make it, this Ilves team alone has 6 better forwards than him. Jalonen surely can't keep picking him forever?

I guess the key question is, six better forwards overall, or six forwards who are better for the role he has in the NT?

This being said, my personal opinion is that this team's success doesn't hinge on Anttila being involved or not. We have other names who should be able to handle the same fourth line duties he has. [Insert the mandatory "occasional sniper" joke here.] But if Jalonen thinks he's the best man for the job, then he'll be there.

 

[Mestaruus]

Interesting to see if Anttila is going to make it, this Ilves team alone has 6 better forwards than him. Jalonen surely can't keep picking him forever?

He will most likely be there doing decisive goals in the important games once again so I wouldn't even consider not taking him. He doesn't have nerves and shines on the big moments of the national team. We need guys like that.

 

[Mestaruus]

One thing is for sure, this team doesn't need as much NHL help as other teams, they can basically just continue where they left in the Olympics. Everything is clear.

But like we saw at the Olympics, sometimes those games were too close. That's why if guys like Hintz or Laine would join, i'd be ready to organize a world championship parade already. Olympic core + individual x-factor from the NHL = key to success.

Indeed. Two forwards of that caliber is all that is needed. The PP will look so different then. We have pretty good D-men for the PP already in Vatanen and Jokiharju shouldn't be bad either. Lehtonen might come as well. More than enough.

In the Olympics Finland had a weakness in PK though. Hopefully that will be fixed in the long preparation camp.

 

[mattihp]

Indeed. Two forwards of that caliber is all that is needed. The PP will look so different then. We have pretty good D-men for the PP already in Vatanen and Jokiharju shouldn't be bad either. Lehtonen might come as well. More than enough.

In the Olympics Finland had a weakness in PK though. Hopefully that will be fixed in the long preparation camp.

If Lehtonen won't come... Will Oliwer "Logo hunter" Kaski get a chance?

 

[JabbaJabba]

If Lehtonen won't come... Will Oliwer "Logo hunter" Kaski get a chance?

Maybe. I kinda hope not. Dude hasn't done anything in national team. I would give Saarijärvi a shot.

 

[FiLe]

If Lehtonen won't come... Will Oliwer "Logo hunter" Kaski get a chance?

Maybe. I kinda hope not. Dude hasn't done anything in national team. I would give Saarijärvi a shot.

We still have Kemiläinen before Saarijärvi.

Also: Vatanen, Jokiharju, Hietanen, Kaski, Kemiläinen, Saarijärvi, Honka, and, heck, Risto too if he really shows up... guess what they all have in common? (Edit: Thomson and Pokka too, though the latter is more of a DD these days, and has also played a fair amount on the left.)

We need some lefties. If Lehtonen is iffy, the only no-brainer one is Ohtamaa. At this stage, I consider Friman's odds better than the tail end of that big pool of OD righties we're swimming in. And if Lehtonen really is a no-show, then either Sund or Koivisto looks like a far more likely replacement. Well, unless Dallas exits early...

 

[Eye of Ra]

We still have Kemiläinen before Saarijärvi.

Also: Vatanen, Jokiharju, Hietanen, Kaski, Kemiläinen, Saarijärvi, Honka, and, heck, Risto too if he really shows up... guess what they all have in common?

We need some lefties. If Lehtonen is iffy, the only no-brainer one is Ohtamaa. At this stage, I consider Friman's odds better than the tail end of that big pool of righties we're swimming in. And if Lehtonen really is a no-show, then either Sund or Koivisto looks like a far more likely replacement. Well, unless Dallas exits early...

maybe even lepistö?

 

[FiLe]

maybe even lepistö?

He retired from NT duty after Pyeongchang.

 

[Lartsaman]

We need some lefties. If Lehtonen is iffy, the only no-brainer one is Ohtamaa. At this stage, I consider Friman's odds better than the tail end of that big pool of righties we're swimming in. And if Lehtonen really is a no-show, then either Sund or Koivisto looks like a far more likely replacement. Well, unless Dallas exits early...

I think Lehtonen will be there.

 

[AB13]

We still have Kemiläinen before Saarijärvi.

Also: Vatanen, Jokiharju, Hietanen, Kaski, Kemiläinen, Saarijärvi, Honka, and, heck, Risto too if he really shows up... guess what they all have in common?

We need some lefties. If Lehtonen is iffy, the only no-brainer one is Ohtamaa. At this stage, I consider Friman's odds better than the tail end of that big pool of righties we're swimming in. And if Lehtonen really is a no-show, then either Sund or Koivisto looks like a far more likely replacement. Well, unless Dallas exits early...

If Dallas make the playoffs they are very likely to not get past Colorado or Calgary in the first round. Finland should wait and maybe you get at least one of Heiskanen or Lindell.

 

[Mestaruus]

If Dallas make the playoffs they are very likely to not get past Colorado or Calgary in the first round. Finland should wait and maybe you get at least one of Heiskanen or Lindell.

Hintz would get to play in his home town of Tampere as well.

Sadly Jukka Jalonen doesn't like waiting, so most of us aren't sure how much patience he has now. Probably not a lot. We even have our old Dallas legend Jere Lehtinen as a GM of Finland with good connections to Dallas, so I hope that they'll take advantage of that some how.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Joel Armia wants to play Leijonat saamassa todella harvinaisen NHL-vahvistuksen MM-kotikisoihin – ”Koputetaan nyt puuta”

 

[ijuka]

Interesting to see if Anttila is going to make it, this Ilves team alone has 6 better forwards than him. Jalonen surely can't keep picking him forever?

Definitely should not be anywhere near the team, he's completely useless even in Liiga.

 

[SantosHalper]

Case Sami Lepistö, we finally have a straight answer.
Sami Lepistön, 37, peli-ilo katosi Jokereissa – ”Suoraan sanottuna tuntui, että olen vain duunissa”

Pyeongchangin olympialaisten 2018 jälkeen häntä ei ole nähty maajoukkueessa.
– Sanoin pari vuotta sitten ennen Karjala-turnausta, etten tule nyt mukaan, pienten lasten isä kertoo.

Sen jälkeen Lepistöä ei ole kysytty tai muutenkaan oltu missään yhteydessä maajoukkueesta.
Hän korostaa, ettei surkuttele asialla, mutta jos kykyjen nähtäisiin riittävän, Leijonista olisi kiva kuulla.

Rough Translation:
Since the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, he has not been seen on the national team.

- I said a couple of years ago before the Karelia tournament that I will not come in now, says the father of small children.

Since then, Lepistö has not been asked or otherwise contacted about the national team.

He emphasizes not lamenting the matter, but if the talents were seen enough, it would be nice to hear about the national team.

 

[Mestaruus]

Joel Armia wants to play Leijonat saamassa todella harvinaisen NHL-vahvistuksen MM-kotikisoihin – ”Koputetaan nyt puuta”

I've always liked Armia but this has been Armia's worst season in a while. He might feel hungry for success, so that's a good thing. He would be clearly one of the best forwards in the team individually but kind of sucks to go breaking that Olympic core with mid level NHL players. I was hoping that it would be the core from the Olympics + some NHL star caliber players. Makes it harder for the likes of Komarov or Pakarinen to get games. Also for the likes of Nättinen and H.Pesonen it's getting hard to be in the line up that gets to play games.

MaG-Manninen-Hartikainen
Laine-x-x
M.Aaltonen-Filppula-Armia
Mäenalanen-Björninen-Anttila

That's what I got so far. Bolded are the 100% picks and non bolded are the quite likely candidates. I hope that X will be filled with some real improvements so we'll have two great PP units.

 

[JabbaJabba]

I've always liked Armia but this has been Armia's worst season in a while. He might feel hungry for success, so that's a good thing. He would be clearly one of the best forwards in the team individually but kind of sucks to go breaking that Olympic core with mid level NHL players. I was hoping that it would be the core from the Olympics + some NHL star caliber players. Makes it harder for the likes of Komarov or Pakarinen to get games.

MaG-Manninen-Hartikainen
Laine-x-x
M.Aaltonen-Filppula-Armia
Mäenalanen-Björninen-Anttila

That's what I got so far. Bolded are the 100% picks and non bolded are the quite likely candidates. I hope that X will be filled with some real improvements so we'll have two great PP units.

I think Armia will be fine in a third line role, especially at this level. Just don't put too much pressure on him to score goals.

 

[Mestaruus]

I think Armia will be fine in a third line role, especially at this level. Just don't put too much pressure on him to score goals.

Indeed. I hope that we get good enough players so that he won't get PP time. At best he could be some kind of mask man I guess. He's a good PK guy and as we know his specialty is stealing those pucks = short handed goals.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Indeed. I hope that we get good enough players so that he won't get PP time. At best he could be some kind of mask man I guess. He's a good PK guy and as we know his specialty is stealing those pucks = short handed goals.

That's the good thing about Armia, he can play solely defensive role very well. Maybe he replaces Anttila on the 4th line. Armia has a long stick as well.