Olympics: Team Finland 2022

[karhukissa]

That's why Selänne isn't a coach and probably never will be. In the studio he's just there because he's a legend and entertaining. Of course Selänne would've been more useful if all the NHL players were present in the tournament. Of the studio guys Grönman has all the expertise there. Grönman has been great this tournament.

Selänne is an icon and overall great personality. But absolutely terrible commentator and probably coach aswell. If they want him to be around there, have some "scoring speciality" for him and that's the only thing he's allowed to commentate.

Same goes to Timonen. And thank god Tikkanen's been out of these studios for years now.

 

[king89]

Finals baby!

 

[Svedu]

Selänne is an icon and overall great personality. But absolutely terrible commentator and probably coach aswell. If they want him to be around there, have some "scoring speciality" for him and that's the only thing he's allowed to commentate.

Same goes to Timonen. And thank god Tikkanen's been out of these studios for years now.

Selänne was probably our greatest player ever but regarding personality... He's said a couple of really dumb things through the years that he doesn't know much about. These things are of course outside hockey. He's charismatic and a stud in many ways but he should stick to commenting hockey.

 

[Svedu]

There is something about this team that just haven't impressed me. Every game has been so close. When we won 2019 I felt that we took the command of games. We've not managed to replicate that.
I agree with earlier posts who believe that we've had some lucky bounces and that we are underdogs in the final.
Also, I feel like Markus Granlund and especially a player like Hartikainen does not suit Jalonens system that well. Hartikainen is a bull in the corners but his strengths do not get used that much and I feel like Rajala or Ojamäki could bring something else to the table. I mean it's clear that Manninen has been far superior to his teammates from UFA and I believe it has to do with his strengths- being mobile. Hartikainen is a good player but he's not dynamic and his lungs are questionable. You just see how gassed he gets after a shift even if he's not skated that hard and hey, its understandable. He's a heavy one. Don´t get me wrong, I do think he's a damn good player but I just don't think he seems to be the best fit in "Meidän peli" and it's not his fault. We don't utilize him enough. Therefor I wouldn't mind some extra speed in this team for the final but I know nothing will change for the final game.
Even if it's impressing that Finland are in the finals and managed to accomplish that in a special way, I´m not as convinced as I were in 2019. There is something with this roster that feels more off than before and even if we've been great defensively I do not trust our BP, nor some of our defenders in our own zone.

Just a small comparison. For example, I felt more secure with Hakanpää and Jokiharju than Vatanen, Pokka and Hietanen. I do feel like a lot of Finnish fans, or actually a lot of hockey fans in general, underestimate Jokiharju. He was good in Chicago and now he's playing in the worst organization in the NHL. He's never been bad in my opinion.
Then we had a good defensive D-man in Mikkola as well. Lehtonen felt better and more confident back then and in all honesty? Kaski was a risk but it's not like our right handed D´s has been excellent in this tournament so far.
We had Kiviranta who worked his *ss of and he's also a guy who can skate. Lammikko was really important in his role as well, better skater than most of our forwards in this roster.
Luostarinen before his injury was a stud. Great skating with even greater decision making. Kakko was great at the beginning of the tournament.
I feel like Pesonen and Manninen are the ones that showed us the same level, perhaps even Aaltonen and Komarov but I do wish to see more from the others in the final.

Last but not least, I´m not complaining, I´m just worried and more concerned. This team isn't as dynamic as the one Jalonen built 2019, but that doesn't´ mean they can't win gold. Just think that K.K and others seem a bit too relaxed because this team is built different than earlier successful teams. Or should I say has bigger strengths-weaknesses. Therefor i don't get the certainty that some seem to share and feel.
Let's hope I´m wrong and that Finland will win the gold!

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Anyone else have noticed how Sakari Manninen plays?
He has looked like Sebastian Aho - lite

He plays like an NHL player, his style, mentality, etc. etc.
- i have noticed it before, in this tournament and in the KHL, but the Slovakia game...

 

[Mestaruus]

There is something about this team that just haven't impressed me. Every game has been so close. When we won 2019 I felt that we took the command of games. We've not managed to replicate that.
I agree with earlier posts who believe that we've had some lucky bounces and that we are underdogs in the final.
Also, I feel like Markus Granlund and especially a player like Hartikainen does not suit Jalonens system that well. Hartikainen is a bull in the corners but his strengths do not get used that much and I feel like Rajala or Ojamäki could bring something else to the table. I mean it's clear that Manninen has been far superior to his teammates from UFA and I believe it has to do with his strengths- being mobile. Hartikainen is a good player but he's not dynamic and his lungs are questionable. You just se how gassed he gets after a shift even if he's not skated that hard and hey, its understandable. He's a heavy one. Don´t get me wrong, I do think he's a damn good player but I just don't think he seems to be the best fit in "Meidän peli" and it's not his fault. We don't utilize him enough. Therefor I wouldn't mind some extra speed in this team for the final but I know nothing will change for the final game.
Even if it's impressing that Finland are in the finals and managed to accomplish that in a special way, I´m not as convinced as I were in 2019. There is something with this roster that feels more off than before and even if we've been great defensively I do not trust our BP, nor some of our defenders in our own zone.

Just a small comparison. For example, I felt more secure with Hakanpää and Jokiharju then Vatanen, Pokka and Hietanen. I do feel like a lot of Finnish fans, or actually a lot of hockey fans in general, underestimate Jokiharju. He was good in Chicago and now he's playing in the worst organization in the NHL. He's never been bad in my opinion.
Then we had a good defensive D-man in Mikkola as well. Lehtonen felt better and more confident back then and in all honesty? Kaski was a risk but it's not like our right handed D´s has been excellent in this tournament so far.
We had Kiviranta who worked his *ss of and he's also a guy who can skate. Lammikko was really important in his role as well, better skater than most of our forwards in this roster.
Luostarinen before his injury was a stud. Great skating with even greater decision making. Kakko was great at the beginning of the tournament.
I feel like Pesonen and Manninen are the ones that showed us the same level, perhaps even Aaltonen and Komarov but I do wish to see more from the others in the final.

Last but not least, I´m not complaining, I´m just worried and more concerned. This team isn't as dynamic as the one Jalonen built 2019, but that doesn't´ mean they can't win gold. Just think that K.K and others seem a bit too relaxed because this team is built different than earlier successful teams. Or should I say has bigger strengths-weaknesses. Therefor i don't get the certainty that some seem to share and feel.
Let's hope I´m wrong and that Finland will win the gold!

2019 they had so many preparation games for the tournament and now no practice games unless we count the preliminary round games as practice games, but still the 2019 WHC team had about double the games if you count in the practice games and that made Finland to be more ready, even against superior teams roster wise.

So Finland still got areas of improvement and I'm quite confident that Finland will improve their game in the final. Whoever comes against Finland will make the odds close to like 50% vs 50%. It will be a tight game and if one team gets a 2 goal lead, then that might be really hard to over come.

If you feel like Pakarinen and Anttila haven't showed their best. I kind of disagree with that, but you can be sure that those two warriors will have a great game in the final. They are big game players. They didn't need to step up against Slovakia in the form of making goals, because we were leading the game and defending that lead well enough. That was just one example. We got unused capacity there if the situation so requires.

 

[Mestaruus]

Anyone else have noticed how Sakari Manninen plays?
He has looked like Sebastian Aho - lite

He plays like an NHL player, his style, mentality, etc. etc.
- i have noticed it before, in this tournament and in the KHL, but the Slovakia game...

He could easily be an NHL player now and maybe some scouts see it now in this small rink. When is his contract ending with UFA I wonder?

 

[Exarz]

He could easily be an NHL player now and maybe some scouts see it now in this small rink. When is his contract ending with UFA I wonder?

Ends in 2023

 

[SoundAndFury]

He could easily be an NHL player now and maybe some scouts see it now in this small rink. When is his contract ending with UFA I wonder?

Next year, he will be 31. Too late for NHL I'd say unless he was going for Roman Cervenka levels of success.

 

[Mestaruus]

Ends in 2023

So after next season is over and this UFA player is UFA? He is only 31-32 years old then and if he gets somewhat close salary to his KHL salary he should go and give it an attempt. It would be a shame to break that trio in UFA team if MaG and Hartikainen will still be there then, but it would be really interesting if he went to NHL.

 

[Mestaruus]

Next year, he will be 31. Too late for NHL I'd say unless he was going for Roman Cervenka levels of success.

Well if those are his prime years, I don't see why he shouldn't try it. Salary needs to be there though probably as he seems to enjoy his time in Russia. Low tax money in Russia also.

 

[Svedu]

2019 they had so many preparation games for the tournament and now no practice games unless we count the preliminary round games as practice games, but still the 2019 WHC team had about double the games if you count in the practice games and that made Finland to be more ready, even against superior teams roster wise.

So Finland still got areas of improvement and I'm quite confident that Finland will improve their game in the final. Whoever comes against Finland will make the odds close to like 50% vs 50%. It will be a tight game and if one team gets a 2 goal lead, then that might be really hard to over come.

If you feel like Pakarinen and Anttila haven't showed their best. I kind of disagree with that, but you can be sure that those two warriors will have a great game in the final. They are big game players. They didn't need to step up against Slovakia in the form of making goals, because we were leading the game and defending that lead well enough. That was just one example. We got unused capacity there if the situation so requires.

Anttila has been good as well, forgot to mention him. Pakarinen? Not every game?

 

[mattihp]

Anyone else have noticed how Sakari Manninen plays?
He has looked like Sebastian Aho - lite

He plays like an NHL player, his style, mentality, etc. etc.
- i have noticed it before, in this tournament and in the KHL, but the Slovakia game...

I thought about that too, I was going to map out which player on this team would have been which one on the bwst team Manninen would've been my Aho. Rantanen? Härski

 

[SantosHalper]

Jukka Jalonen right now:

One more to go, defensive zones defensive game has been improving game after game. That's most important thing to Jalonen. This team is hard working and experienced enough to score the necessary goals to win the games, and most importantly this team is united. This is the time when the 1st olympic gold in hockey comes to Finland.

 

[SantosHalper]

I find it amusing how some finnish hockey fans say how they can't get right "feeling", because the NHL players ain't playing. But i bet the same people will be partying like animals when we win the gold medal.

And it's also amusing how hockey fans always say, how the logo up front should mean more to the players than the name in the back. But now during these olympics it seems to me, that some fans care more about the name on the back rather than the logo up front.
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Greetings, Finnish hockey lovers, can you tell me something about Kari Jalonen? I mean the level of the national team, not the club. I see that he only got a chance for two world championship tournaments. The first tournament was not good, the second was. But it's been six years, then he went to Bern and won the Swiss league twice. He should be in the circle of people who could take over the Czechs for the tournament in Tampere.

Lauri Marjamäki is available...

 

[FiLe]

I thought about that too, I was going to map out which player on this team would have been which one on the bwst team Manninen would've been my Aho. Rantanen? Härski

The cast of Team Finland: Best-on-Best - the Movie

Harri Säteri as Juuse Saros
Jussi Olkinuora as Ville Husso
Frans Tuohimaa as Jukka Tammi

Mikko Lehtonen as Miro Heiskanen
Petteri Lindbohm as Niko Mikkola
Atte Ohtamaa as Esa Lindell
Ville Pokka as Jani Hakanpää
Valtteri Kemiläinen as Rasmus Ristolainen
Juuso Hietanen as Henri Jokiharju
Niklas Friman as Olli Määttä
Sami Vatanen as Himself

Valtteri Filppula as Aleksander Barkov
Sakari Manninen as Sebastian Aho
Joonas Nättinen as Roope Hintz
Hannes Björninen as Anton Lundell
Miro Aaltonen as Mikael Granlund
Markus Granlund as Teuvo Teräväinen
Teemu Hartikainen as Jesse Puljujärvi
Iiro Pakarinen as Mikko Rantanen
Harri Pesonen as Kasperi Kapanen
Leo Komarov as Artturi Lehkonen
Saku Mäenalanen as Erik Haula
Toni Rajala as Joonas Donskoi
Niko Ojamäki as Joel Armia
Marko Anttila as Patrik Laine

 

[Elias40]

I find it amusing how some finnish hockey fans say how they can't get right "feeling", because the NHL players ain't playing. But i bet the same people will be partying like animals when we win the gold medal.

And it's also amusing how hockey fans always say, how the logo up front should mean more to the players than the name in the back. But now during these olympics it seems to me, that some fans care more about the name on the back rather than the logo up front.
----------------------------------------

Lauri Marjamäki is available...

I wouldn't be surprised when people in the federation run hockey. According to Czech journalists, the federation should have tried to contact Tortorella if NHL players went to the Olympics. It is evident that the Czechs do not have good coaches, the experiment with Pesan failed at full speed, two tournaments and two very bad results. And so there are rumors that NT should be given to a foreigner for the first time in history.

 

[Mestaruus]

The cast of Team Finland: Best-on-Best - the Movie

Harri Säteri as Juuse Saros
Jussi Olkinuora as Ville Husso
Frans Tuohimaa as Jukka Tammi

Mikko Lehtonen as Miro Heiskanen
Petteri Lindbohm as Niko Mikkola
Atte Ohtamaa as Esa Lindell
Ville Pokka as Jani Hakanpää
Valtteri Kemiläinen as Rasmus Ristolainen
Juuso Hietanen as Henri Jokiharju
Niklas Friman as Olli Määttä
Sami Vatanen as Himself

Valtteri Filppula as Aleksander Barkov
Sakari Manninen as Sebastian Aho
Joonas Nättinen as Roope Hintz
Hannes Björninen as Anton Lundell
Miro Aaltonen as Mikael Granlund
Markus Granlund as Teuvo Teräväinen
Teemu Hartikainen as Jesse Puljujärvi
Iiro Pakarinen as Mikko Rantanen
Harri Pesonen as Kasperi Kapanen
Leo Komarov as Artturi Lehkonen
Saku Mäenalanen as Erik Haula
Toni Rajala as Joonas Donskoi
Niko Ojamäki as Joel Armia
Marko Anttila as Patrik Laine

Aku Hirviniemi as Jukka Jalonen only because Aku Hirviniemi has to be in every single movie.

 

[FiLe]

Aku Hirviniemi as Jukka Jalonen only because Aku Hirviniemi has to be in every single movie.

Would be surprisingly fitting, actually. They're both from Riihimäki.

 

[Elias40]

Having written something about coaches ... what exactly happened in Finland with the level of coaching? The Finns have been producing great players for the last eight years or so, but it hasn't always been that high with the coaches. Do they draw inspiration from other countries or have they devised their own system to improve the coaching level? From my point of view, this is one of the problems of Swedish hockey and it will erase the difference in quality on the ice.

 

[Mestaruus]

Would be surprisingly fitting, actually. They're both from Riihimäki.

I honestly didn't even remember that.

 

[Mestaruus]

Having written something about coaches ... what exactly happened in Finland with the level of coaching? The Finns have been producing great players for the last eight years or so, but it hasn't always been that high with the coaches. Do they draw inspiration from other countries or have they devised their own system to improve the coaching level? From my point of view, this is one of the problems of Swedish hockey and it will erase the difference in quality on the ice.

Someone else can have a better answer than me because that question requires a longer response in my opinion.

I think that they will say something about the year 2010 and Erkka Westerlund seminar for Finnish coaches that revolutionized some things what comes to Finnish coaching, at least for international Finnish national teams coaching, including the juniors. I would say that it wasn't only the 2010 thing that did that. Liiga/SM-Liiga also played a part, because it's more tactical than SHL for example, so coaching may have played a bigger role in Liiga. So coaching was and maybe still is more demanding in Finland. So maybe that produced more good coaches. There must be other reasons than those as well but I can't think of any other reasons right now.

I don't have an answer for why Finnish goalie coaches were the best in the world for a while and they still might be. Once Russia started giving them big money to go to KHL, suddenly a lot of top Russian goalies started to appear and now Russia has the best goalies in the world partly because of Finnish goalie coaches.

 

[mattihp]

Erkka Westerlund was also very good. Loved Summanen too, but he rubbed some of the NHLers the wrong way when he wouldn't pray at Niinimaa's altar as he was fast declining

 

[DowJones]

I really would have hope for a 2006 reply, but now when we are out I hope for a Winter war replay. Please go and destroy Putins day.

Best regards
/Your favorite Swedish big brother

 

[FiLe]

I don't have an answer for why Finnish goalie coaches were the best in the world for a while and they still might be.

But I have. There is literally a single man who developed a ton of new goalie coaching methods, essentially rewrote the entire book on the topic and revolutionized the field. Apart from training a sizable crop of pretty good goalies, he is also responsible for training a whole new crop of good goalie coaches. His name is Urpo Ylönen.