Olympics: Team Finland 2022

[Erikfromfin]

My previous projection (that can be found in the OP) was made before the season began. Now, it's about a month and a half 'til the selections are made, so I think it's time I update it...

Juuse Saros
Mikko Koskinen
Kevin Lankinen

The goalie situation is not ideal. But all you absolutely need is just one good one, and Saros is the one. Rask returning in time might upend this trio. Or perhaps either Elvis Merzlinkins or Jordan Binnington getting injured.

Miro Heiskanen - Rasmus Ristolainen
Esa Lindell - Henri Jokiharju
Olli Määttä - Sami Vatanen
Juuso Välimäki - Jani Hakanpää

Eight d-men are going to get selected, and Jere Lehtinen said recently that eight d-men will likely dress for all the games, which means a four-pair rotation.

Right now, I view seven of these eight either locks or highly likely (Vatanen, if you ask me, took a pretty big step towards this squad in the Karjala Cup) with Väliharju's spot being the only questionable one. If Sutter keeps sitting him and someone else starts getting steady minutes, his position is definitely in jeopardy. I might even have included Lehtonen over him, but he's presently injured and there is no good estimate given of his return, except that it's going to take weeks.

Patrik Laine - Aleksander Barkov - Mikko Rantanen
Teuvo Teräväinen - Sebastian Aho - Jesse Puljujärvi
Mikael Granlund - Roope Hintz - Kaapo Kakko
Kasperi Kapanen - Anton Lundell - Joel Armia
+Eetu Luostarinen, Joonas Donskoi

That top-nine is just... wicked. I'm really happy Kakko has started showing signs of waking up, as I've always viewed him as the ideal player to complete the first three lines. While Kakko's main value is measured in points, I in fact liked his 200ft game even when he was struggling.

And even the fourth line is far from your typical grinder unit. We can safely say now that Lundell's performance is more than just an early streak. Sure, he might still hit a bump, but by now that looks not so likely to happen. Luostarinen is another new name here. I was pretty bullish on him during last season already, and now I think he's more or less emerged as the ideal extra center.

Very good lineup. I just have this sensation that Haula will somehow sneak into the team. I would also take Raanta over Lankinen or Koskinen. Väliharju?

 

[iginlafan77]

Very good lineup. I just have this sensation that Haula will somehow sneak into the team. I would also take Raanta over Lankinen or Koskinen. Väliharju?

I believe that Valiharju was supposed to be Valimaki

 

[JabbaJabba]

Lassi Thomson might actually be a dark horse for team Finland. I'm not saying he is in the team yet but there is still few months to play before olympics and his entry into the league has been surprisingly good. If he can keep this up and even improve he might sneak in.
Or is there somekind of problem with the preliminary lists regarding his olympics?

One advantage he has is that he's a righty. A lot of the best Finnish defencemen are lefties and there are more options than spots on the team. Besides Thomson the only righties in the NHL are Ristolainen, Jokiharju and Hakanpää. Finland will likely use four defencepairing, so there's just enough spots for them. In addition, the situation with Ristolainen is still a mystery, which is why there's a chance that he's not on the team, which would open a spot on the right side. In Europe there's Vatanen who is an option, but I don't know if he makes it.

Realistically, I don't think Thomson is likely to play in the Olympics because I think Jalonen likes his familiar players too much. In addition, Lindell has played right side as a lefty this year in Dallas and I expect to see those two together in the Olympics. Thomson has been impressive though and Jalonen has to be at least checking out his games and thinking, what if...

 

[FiLe]

One advantage he has is that he's a righty. A lot of the best Finnish defencemen are lefties and there are more options than spots on the team.

If we limit the selection to those NHL d-men who actually get to regularly feature in their club team lineups, we have no more than three lefties - Heiskanen, Lindell and Määttä. So it's exactly the same as the number of staple righties. And if we consider Vatanen more likely than any of the bubble lefties, then we actually have the issue of finding enough good lefties rather than righties.

Hakanpää and Jokiharju are locks if healthy. And if we assume that Risto will make it and add Vatanen into the mix, and keep the Dallas top pair together - we end up in the unusual situation in which two righties have to feature in the same pair. And that's without bringing Thomson into the discussion at all. And then there's Pokka, who's another somewhat reliable euro option with small ice experience.

 

[Mestaruus]

Biggest upgrade we can have and hope is that Rask signs a contract with Boston and looks good in the games he would play before the Olympics.

 

[Pataatti]

One advantage he has is that he's a righty. A lot of the best Finnish defencemen are lefties and there are more options than spots on the team. Besides Thomson the only righties in the NHL are Ristolainen, Jokiharju and Hakanpää. Finland will likely use four defencepairing, so there's just enough spots for them. In addition, the situation with Ristolainen is still a mystery, which is why there's a chance that he's not on the team, which would open a spot on the right side. In Europe there's Vatanen who is an option, but I don't know if he makes it.

Realistically, I don't think Thomson is likely to play in the Olympics because I think Jalonen likes his familiar players too much. In addition, Lindell has played right side as a lefty this year in Dallas and I expect to see those two together in the Olympics. Thomson has been impressive though and Jalonen has to be at least checking out his games and thinking, what if...

I don't think Thomson actually makes it either. Atleast not yet. But there is couple months to play before the olympics so I'm just wondering how well Thomson would need to play to make a case for himself? Is keeping the current form good enough or should he improve a lot?
Defense is Finlands weakest position after all and it's interesting to see if someone of the young Finnish d-men actually can sneak in the team. I think at this point Thomson is a dark horse in the race

 

[Pataatti]

Biggest upgrade we can have and hope is that Rask signs a contract with Boston and looks good in the games he would play before the Olympics.

I don't know how big of an upgrade Rask could be. Saros has shown that he is a great goalie in the NHL. Still I have to say I'm kinda worried that maybe on best on the best tournament the players would be more able to abuse his size, but that said I don't think Rask would be any safer pick considering how long he has been out. Even if Rask plays well in the NHL before olympics he would still be a question mark imo.

Anyways I'm not too worried of Finlands goaltending since all the options Finland has are more than capable to pull Niittymäki style performance in a short tournament.
I think it's just about luck and timing if we can find the hot goalie. At this point I think Saros has the number one spot even if Rask is healthy and performing well

 

[Husqvarna]

We, Finland will get 'em/you by the balls. No worries. Canada.

Esa Lindell and his evil Finland-a-lot-to-do Heiskanen shut just a moment a go down holy that for ever McDavid and the whole that Edmonton-lot.

So no worries Finland there . The only actually one who got points there was - poor Puljujärvi ... of Finland fame.

 

[Czechboy]

We, Finland will get 'em/you by the balls. No worries. Canada.

Esa Lindell and his evil Finland-a-lot-to-do Heiskanen shut just a moment a go down holy that for ever McDavid and the whole that Edmonton-lot.

So no worries Finland there . The only actually one who got points there was - poor Puljujärvi ... of Finland fame.

I'm not mocking... but can you let me know what you are trying to say here. I'm beyond confused?

 

[FiLe]

I'm not mocking... but can you let me know what you are trying to say here. I'm beyond confused?

I think it could be loosely translated as: "I should put down the bottle and go to bed."

 

[serp]

 

[karhukissa]

Hakanpää is a tank, makes 6'3 Hintz look like a schoolboy

 

[Figgie]

JFK the only one who is not going to be in the team

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Mestaruus]

Kakko seems to want in. I got no doubt that he would be chosen, but will he be there playing in the opening day or in the first (and only?) practice game. If he keeps this up I say yes. Donskoi who was a lock for me before I'm not so sure about anymore. Maybe one of Kakko, Donskoi or Armia doesn't play if injuries don't throw a curve ball. That's how it's looking right now to me.

Laine-Barkov-Rantanen
Teräväinen-Aho-Puljujärvi
Granlund-Hintz-Kapanen
Armia-Lundell-Kakko/Donskoi

Lehkonen and Haula are also candidates for those winger spots. Haula would strenghten the faceoffing if Lundell gets sent out by the ref. Since it would be a more defensive line that might be important. Not sure if someone like Luostarinen is as capable of being transformed to a winger as Haula, so I'd leave Luostarinen out for now, but there is more games to be played before the Olympics so we'll see.

 

[David OSullivan]

Lehkonen is playing really well. One to watch for the 4th line.

 

[featherhawk]

look at these beauties

 

[Boonk]

look at these beauties

Better than ours and whatever the hell those US uniforms are lol.

Those Finnish jerseys are gorgeous

 

[featherhawk]

Better than ours and whatever the hell those US uniforms are lol.

Those Finnish jerseys are gorgeous

agreed, I am going to get one of these, likely blue

 

[Eye of Ra]

nice jerseys.

 

[featherhawk]

Better than ours and whatever the hell those US uniforms are lol.

Those Finnish jerseys are gorgeous

yup, the only improvement I see would be to have the arm numbers in the stripe and not above it

 

[Barkkonen]

yup, the only improvement I see would be to have the arm numbers in the stripe and not above it

now that you mention it, very odd place for numbers.

 

[IceHockeyDude]

https://www.is.fi/nhl/art-2000008436700.html

Jalonen and Lehtinen have had a meeting with Ristolainen. I have a hunch he'll be in the team. TBH there's no much choise.

Now that Jokiharju is back with the Sabres and recording decent minutes the top 4 would be looking like
Heiskanen-Lindell
Jokiharju-Ristolainen

Im really liking the top 9 in the offense at the moment. All of them are having a good year despite Barkov and Laine being injured for a while.

Laine-Barkov-Rantanen
Teräväinen-Aho-Pulju
Granlund-Hintz-Kapanen

 

[FiLe]

Heiskanen-Lindell
Jokiharju-Ristolainen

That second pair would have two righties together, which would be quite unorthodox. L-L pairings are nothing unusual, but righties usually stick to the right side.

Of course, if we consider Ristolainen, Heiskanen and Hakanpää certain to make it, and add Vatanen into the mix, it would mean either splitting up the Dallas pair or sticking two righties together. Can't quite say which would be the lesser evil. But if Vatanen doesn't make it and five lefties do (Heiskanen, Lindell, Määttä, Lehtonen?, Välimäki?), then a Jokiharju-Ristolainen pair likely won't happen.

 

[heksagon]

That second pair would have two righties together, which would be quite unorthodox. L-L pairings are nothing unusual, but righties usually stick to the right side.

Of course, if we consider Ristolainen, Heiskanen and Hakanpää certain to make it, and add Vatanen into the mix, it would mean either splitting up the Dallas pair or sticking two righties together. Can't quite say which would be the lesser evil. But if Vatanen doesn't make it and five lefties do (Heiskanen, Lindell, Määttä, Lehtonen?, Välimäki?), then a Jokiharju-Ristolainen pair likely won't happen.

Righty-righty pairs are rare, that is true, but not out of the question. Florida is running with Weegar-Ekblad top pairing this season to good results. So it might happen if there are no better options, but I somewhat agree that it's unortodox. Knowing Jalonen, he might go with four d-pairings, making it less likely for a righty-righty pairing to happen.