Olympics: Team Finland 2022

[FiLe]

Kaski is a bit surprising since he was on those successful Jalonen teams before but his downsides are obvious and I guess Vatanen moving to Europe removes any needs to have a PP specialist of some sort.

Kaski is one of those players who have been given a lot of chances, but he's never really truly capitalized on them - or, at least he's failed to establish himself as a true leading puckmover. And yeah, he's exactly never been stellar defensively. So he became rather redundant with Vatanen's return from overseas, and Hietanen making himself available again more or less sealed his fate.

 

[Mestaruus]

Ruohomaa has more recent NT experience, but he has done virtually nothing to earn any kind of preferred status. Not that he has been a liability either, but I honestly wouldn't say that around 15 games of relative invisibility from the last year or so are more impressive than Kemppainen's three games of relative invisibility from the Channel One Cup (which still potted him 0+2). Especially since there's been a time when Kemppainen was genuinely good in a major tournament environment, even if that was before Jalonen's second coming.

In the last WHC it also felt like Ruohomaa spent way too much time in the penalty box. Other than that he played pretty well. It was often that he was the one taking those stupid or careless penalties.

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

Defense looks weak, don't we have a couple of guys better than these?

I was thinking “Does Finland really have six defensemen better than Julius Honka and Sami Lepistö playing in Europe?”, and I still wonder.

Lepistö is getting up there in age but he’s been virtually flawless since arriving in Luleå. He’s typically paired up with Honka who’s been absolutely excellent, certainly one of the very best defensemen in the SHL and I can’t believe he struggled in North America.

I also expected Tyrväinen to be considered, he’s a huge fan favorite in Luleå and was part of the 2019 championship team.

Finland’s shooting themselves in the foot not bringing Luleå players to China!

Remember 1995: no Myllys, Nieminen and Jutila, no way you win that gold!

 

[SoundAndFury]

I think Ruohomaa has the same problem that we were discussing about Kemppainen - center slots are occupied and Kemppainen just adds a different dimension to the team in terms of size and power while Ruohomaa is just a very vanilla option and not really the "energy player" type at all. Lehtera is also in the same boat although EVEN more so.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Finland’s shooting themselves in the foot not bringing Luleå players to China!

Sounds like really what your post comes down to I think all the guys you mentioned are decent options but not big omissions either. I guess Lepisto did deserve a strong consideration (and Friman is the most discussed pick anyway) but it's not a huge deal.

Honka is having first successful pro season in his career (more or less) so I don't think anyone is convinced yet and Tyrvainen is yet another solid center that just has no room in this team.

 

[FiLe]

Lepistö might have been an interesting addition, but there is no massive need for him with Lehtonen healthy and back in the fold. And Lepistö's last NT duty is from the last olympics, so it is possible he was asked but declined.

Honka is yet another right-hooked puckmover - a solid one at that, but nothing special when placed next to Vatanen, Hietanen, Kemiläinen and Kaski.

 

[Kibe]

2nd/3rd line will be Manninen - Granlund - Hartikainen? All three can take draws. Pretty annoying line to play against.

Mäenalanen - Björninen - Anttila for the fourth line?

It's de facto first line. I'm guessing Komarov - Björninen - Anttila for fourth and Mäenalanen as extra, unless Leksa plays in third then Mäenalanen fits The fourth line better than Rajala.

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

Sounds like really what your post comes down to

Of course! While I shouldn’t complain our stars (save for Erik Gustafsson) are being rested for the watered down Olympics, I’m slighted by the arrogance implied in not selecting our beloved Finns.

It was complicated growing up cheering for Team Sweden and then having Jarmo Myllys on the other end. I’m not planning to watch a single game of the Olympics, but I kind of still would like to have had someone to root for, and all these Russian league lego soldiers with zero (or in the case of Rajala, disappointing) Luleå experience aren’t cutting it for me!

 

[FiLe]

25 players selected.

18 - KHL players.
5 - NLA/Swiss league players.
2 - Liiga/SM-Liiga players.

Zero from Swedish league. Interesting.

Now that the Swedish team has been announced, it's interesting to do a comparison to them, given we're in the same group and all.

Finland/Sweden
KHL: 18/8
NLA: 5/7
SHL: 0/10
Liiga: 2/0

I must say, it feels quite strange to enter a major tournament with a roster that is better on paper than Sweden's. Well, or any other participant's save likely Russia. Of course, it's not a guarantee of anything - I certainly don't expect that Finland will just leave Sweden biting dust.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Garpenlöv, swedish coach, said that finland and russia is the 2 strongest teams in olympics.

 

[FiLe]

Garpenlöv, swedish coach, said that finland and russia is the 2 strongest teams in olympics.

I must say I agree with him. But I by no means think that the rest of the participants are completely without a chance and should just roll over and die.

 

[Husqvarna]

This is it - the Finland squad that will overkill.

Everybody.

Nemas problemas (as they said in Sarajevo before the war broke lose).

If Finland can't win this time around ... they (Finland) can win it easy another year.

Baby, they can.
And you know it. You do.

The only one - except that Kaski boy - I miss in this Finland squad is the hard-nosed enforcer Juhani Tyrväinen that I dig a whole lotta lot.

The rest o' the Finland lot are bad, bad boys ... ready to rock'n'roll back in Peking!

 

[Sanf]

Lepistö probably is retired from NT. I mean he has been in three olympics and have two bronze medals (from best vs. best) and World Championship gold. I don´t think there is much him to gain anymore. Hietanen has been with Jalonen from 2003. Has seen Liiga and NT breakthrough with Jalonen. I think it was easier for Jalonen to lure Hietanen back.

 

[Husqvarna]

Jukka Jalonen got it alright as always.

In J.J we Finland trust.

He knows better than you and me .

Until ...

 

[Husqvarna]

And as a simple fact "Terva" means "Tar" in English ... and Finns do eat it as candy.

So there you go ...

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Now that Finland isn't an underdog I'm expecting a quarter final loss

 

[SantosHalper]

Ruohomaa has more recent NT experience, but he has done virtually nothing to earn any kind of preferred status. Not that he has been a liability either, but I honestly wouldn't say that around 15 games of relative invisibility from the last year or so are more impressive than Kemppainen's three games of relative invisibility from the Channel One Cup (which still potted him 0+2). Especially since there's been a time when Kemppainen was genuinely good in a major tournament environment, even if that was before Jalonen's second coming.

I agree with you it was more like a gut feeling, that Jalonen might pick Ruohomaa instead of Kemppainen. But yes indeed Kemppainen have been good in NT before, way better track record than Ruohomaa.

Lepistö might have been an interesting addition, but there is no massive need for him with Lehtonen healthy and back in the fold. And Lepistö's last NT duty is from the last olympics, so it is possible he was asked but declined

Jalonen said that nobody declined. Is this first time ever when nobody declines?
Leijonat - Päävalmentaja Jalonen: ”Pelaajia yhdistää kova halu pelata maajoukkueelle ja edustaa Suomea”

 

[mattihp]

Kaski is one of those players who have been given a lot of chances, but he's never really truly capitalized on them - or, at least he's failed to establish himself as a true leading puckmover. And yeah, he's exactly never been stellar defensively. So he became rather redundant with Vatanen's return from overseas, and Hietanen making himself available again more or less sealed his fate.

Kaski tried to take his chances, but he seemed to have very specific instructions on the PP which left him taking his shots from the wrong place. I think he isn't smart enough to adapt to more strict instructions. On his club teams the PP is tailored to his skills and he sure has bundles of them.

 

[FiLe]

Jalonen said that nobody declined. Is this first time ever when nobody declines?

We don't know what exactly Jalonen is referring to here. Does he mean the 25 players he gave the final invite? Or some broader group he picked the final 25 from? In either case, I seriously doubt that Jalonen just overlooked Lepistö - him not being on this team or even the two EHT teams must be because Leppä himself indicated at some point that he won't be available.

 

[Husqvarna]

We don't know what exactly Jalonen is referring to here. Does he mean the 25 players he gave the final invite? Or some broader group he picked the final 25 from? In either case, I seriously doubt that Jalonen just overlooked Lepistö - him not being on this team or even the two EHT teams must be because Leppä himself indicated at some point that he won't be available.

As often you may be right - sometimes you may be wrong. So no Lepistö. This time around. Please.

 

[johnsic]

Lehterä isn't good enough for top-6 and Filppula is way better 2 way center and obvious choice to this team. This team is full of role players and guys Jalonen trusts.

Pulkkinen is a good PP guy but not familiar enough to Jalonen and too one dimensional for his style of hockey i'd assume. That style which has bring us gold so many times, that's why he always goes for players he know can play his hockey.

Kaski would've been on this team most probably, if Vatanen was still in the NHL.

Finland could have had a quality offensive dman on every defensive pairing with Lehtonen, Kaski and Vatanen.

 

[mattihp]

Finland could have had a quality offensive dman on every defensive pairing with Lehtonen, Kaski and Vatanen.

Kaski is a fine offensive d-man on team Finland, especially on the cycle. But with Vatanen there, other qualities are preferred. He is not nearly as good as in his club either

 

[FiLe]

As often you may be right - sometimes you may be wrong. So no Lepistö. This time around. Please.

Wut. The team has been picked, Lepistö is not on it, and nobody's pining after him. (Well, no Finnish fan at least.)

 

[Husqvarna]

Now that Finland isn't an underdog I'm expecting a quarter final loss

Even my ol' fave-band Nazareth had Rush from Canada as a support band mid 70's; believe it or not.

In Finland we trust.

 

[Husqvarna]

I was thinking “Does Finland really have six defensemen better than Julius Honka and Sami Lepistö playing in Europe?”, and I still wonder.

Lepistö is getting up there in age but he’s been virtually flawless since arriving in Luleå. He’s typically paired up with Honka who’s been absolutely excellent, certainly one of the very best defensemen in the SHL and I can’t believe he struggled in North America.

I also expected Tyrväinen to be considered, he’s a huge fan favorite in Luleå and was part of the 2019 championship team.

Finland’s shooting themselves in the foot not bringing Luleå players to China!

Remember 1995: no Myllys, Nieminen and Jutila, no way you win that gold!