WC: Team Finland 2025
- Thread starter Eye of Ra
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Kuracmugger
Registered User
- Oct 15, 2019
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Does Lehtonen have chances to be on the Olympic team next year?For me he‘s maybe the best defender outside the NHL and Finland does not have that many good NHL defenders.
Finland sorely needs some good puckmoving NHL caliber d-men. Four Nations with Heiskanen being out clearly exposed this as a weakness.
If Lehtonen was NHL caliber, he'd probably be in the NHL. But he is indeed our best offensive d-man outside the big league, and his puckmoving skills are far better than those of our 2nd/3rd pair NHL regulars. So, while I wouldn't call him a lock, I'd call him the most likely name to make it from outside the NHL.
He definitely has a good chance to make team Finland's roster for the 2026 Olympics. I think if he plays well this spring his chances will be even closer.
Nurmi and Levtchi from Luleå should have spots over Puhakka/Järvinen/Ikonen/Ehrholtz/Hämeenaho/Kiiskinen.
Tolvanen - Pärssinen - Teräväinen
Pesonen - Ruohomaa - Merelä
Levtchi - Lammikko - Puistola
Tikka - Björninen - Oksanen
Nurmi, Hämeenaho
Lehtonen - Rissanen
Thompson - Salo
Leppänen - Seppälä
Pulli - Saarijärvi
Saros
Annunnen
Larmi
Last edited:
SantosHalper
Get off my lawn
Tolvanen - Pärssinen - Teräväinen(A)
Pesonen - Ruohomaa - Puistola
Oksanen - Lammikko - Merelä
Tikka - Björninen (C) - Kiiskinen
Järvinen, Erholtz
Lehtonen(A) - Rissanen
Leppänen - Seppälä
Salo - Thomson
Virtanen - Vittasmäki
Saros
Larmi/Annunen
PP1
--------------Pärssinen-----------
Teräväinen---Merelä----Tolvanen
--------------Lehtonen-----------
PP2
-----------Pesonen--------
Ruohomaa--------Puistola
--Thomson-----Leppänen--
PK
Björninen - Tikka
Lammikko - Oksanen
Pärssinen - Kiiskinen
Pesonen - Ruohomaa - Puistola
Oksanen - Lammikko - Merelä
Tikka - Björninen (C) - Kiiskinen
Järvinen, Erholtz
Lehtonen(A) - Rissanen
Leppänen - Seppälä
Salo - Thomson
Virtanen - Vittasmäki
Saros
Larmi/Annunen
PP1
--------------Pärssinen-----------
Teräväinen---Merelä----Tolvanen
--------------Lehtonen-----------
PP2
-----------Pesonen--------
Ruohomaa--------Puistola
--Thomson-----Leppänen--
PK
Björninen - Tikka
Lammikko - Oksanen
Pärssinen - Kiiskinen
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GM Lehtinen made a comment earlier that they're watching the DEL finals, so they might add him. We'll see.
In other news, Nyman's club just advanced, so I guess we won't be having him.
Two new players confirmed: VM Vittasmäki and a much-awaited add from Pittsburgh/Scranton... Joona Koppanen.
I kind of wonder if this means no Koivunen nor Puustinen. Well, Koppanen is a center, which is a plus, I guess - though he's hardly an offensive powerhouse.
I kind of wonder if this means no Koivunen nor Puustinen. Well, Koppanen is a center, which is a plus, I guess - though he's hardly an offensive powerhouse.
SantosHalper
Get off my lawn
Pulli out, Vittasmäki in. Not very sure about Koppanen, looking like a guy for 4th line role. Kiiskinen & Erholtz has been in the camp longer, more familiar with game systems but i think Koppanen has a chance to make it. But i don't lose sleep if he gets cut.
Such a joke if they don't invite Koivunen.
If he wasn't 6'5 then he'd be the most forgettable player ever.
I don´t necessarily think its weird invite. I mean somebody else sees something in him because he has even got an 1-way NHL contract even. And he is used to fight against odds. Unique career edit for Finnish player.
Has any other player than Markus Granlud got cut from the team with current NHL contract? I honestly can´t remember.
JabbaJabba
Registered User
Ristolainen did, I think. I believe his bad blood with national team stems from that incident.
Sucks if Koivunen doesn't get a chance. Seems like an obvious choice. I don't mind seeing Koppanen at camp, just to see, what he can do. I wouldn't give Puustinen a spot right away 'cos last year he wasn't that great and he hasn't had the best season, but I would give him a chance as well.
Too bad about Määttä and Vaakanainen. I was almost sure that Määttä would come at least. They would have really solified the defense, which does look good already.
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Yeah, he played a full season with the Sabres in 2015, was invited to the camp where he dressed for four games, but K.Jalonen cut him from the final team. The Markus Granlund incident was a year later, also courtesy of KJ.
I must say, though, that if this was the reason for Ristolainen blowing off the national team for good, it's kind of petty of him to carry on that grudge ten years and three coaches later. It's not the fault of Marjamäki, JJ or Pennanen if Kojo mishandled the situation.
GM Lehtinen confirmed that Koivunen and Puustinen won't be joining. So that's that.
I just don't understand how Koivunen was left out. No matter how you look at the players, he still easily the best winger after Teräväinen and Tolvanen. Probably would've been the best option to run the powerplay.
Saros
Annunen
Leppänen-Saarijärvi
Lehtonen-Salo
Rissanen-Thomson
Vittasmäki-Pulli
Tolvanen-Pärssinen-Teräväinen
Puistola-Ruohomaa-Merelä
Pesonen-Lammikko-Hämeenaho
Oksanen-Björninen-Nurmi
Koppanen
Saros
Annunen
Leppänen-Saarijärvi
Lehtonen-Salo
Rissanen-Thomson
Vittasmäki-Pulli
Tolvanen-Pärssinen-Teräväinen
Puistola-Ruohomaa-Merelä
Pesonen-Lammikko-Hämeenaho
Oksanen-Björninen-Nurmi
Koppanen
JabbaJabba
Registered User
There has to be some solid reason for the Koivunen case, especially since they invited Koppanen from the same team. Perhaps he was playing with some kind of injury.
Neither Pennanen or Lehtinen have said that they're done waiting for adds from overseas, so I guess any eliminated player is a possibility until we know sure that they aren't coming. Haula was eliminated last night and he's got a contract. He was at Four Nations, but I doubt that he's a shoo-in for the olympics, so we'll see. Wouldn't be surprised if he joins, but wouldn't also be if he declines.
Kapanen is one name I consider more likely than not if/when he becomes available. We'd certainly have more than enough centers in that case.
Neither Pennanen or Lehtinen have said that they're done waiting for adds from overseas, so I guess any eliminated player is a possibility until we know sure that they aren't coming. Haula was eliminated last night and he's got a contract. He was at Four Nations, but I doubt that he's a shoo-in for the olympics, so we'll see. Wouldn't be surprised if he joins, but wouldn't also be if he declines.
Kapanen is one name I consider more likely than not if/when he becomes available. We'd certainly have more than enough centers in that case.
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