WC: Team Finland 2025

[Sanf]

I think this might be the first time since 1951 and in overall only second time when Finland isn´t atleast the second best nordic country in hockey WHC.

 

[karhukissa]

Nothing to worry about, end of this tournament doesn't dictate the next one. Erkka W lost in 2005 with a much better team but in Turin we were dominating the tournament.

Compete level has risen in the Worlds. Switzerlan, Germany, Latvia has won medals recently and now Denmark is in, and Austria made it to QF's. Tournament is getting tougher and hopefully that trend continues.

3 out of 4 teams in conference finals is carried by finnish players, we will do well in the Olympics.

It will be interesting. Fact is that we played great against Canada and against USA we were the better team until that penalty clusterfuc*k

In the 4 nations our game was a big mess. NHL boys came to play and had no structure, apparently Pennanen just gave the game to the bois. Aho and Hintz were like ghosts.

Jalonen and Erkka had clear structures and also charisma, they were the captains of that ship, not the players. If we play in the Olympics like we played against the Canada, we can win gold.

Players with super high skill level playing Jalonen puck control hockey, simple game and not coast to coast where d-men do stupid mistakes because they don't have clear passing lanes. Jalonen thesis was that 4 players equals more than one individual. Have 4 top guys playing same structure and when they get to attack you unleash them, it will be poison to many opponents.

 

[Svedu]

Who it should be then if not Pennanen.
Theese names who might get considered aren't available now.
Olli Jokinen is signed to HIFK
Raimo Helminen to Saipa
Tommi Niemelä to Ilves
Kari Jalonen to Kölner Haie ( German DEL team )
Petri Matikainen to JYP.
Toni Söderholm to TPS.
Mikko Manner to HPK
Jussi Tapola to SC Bern.
Jussi Ahokas to Kitchener Rangers.

Terminating Ahokas's OHL contract or K Jalonen's DEL contract or Tapola's NLA contract will not be cheap.
So when situation is this only option is to get foreign coach from Canada, USA or Sweden.

And last.
Ville Peltonen shouldn't be option at all to next leijonat head coach.
He failed so miserably in HIFK so he shouldn't be coaching any Finnish national team.
Pennanen will be coaching Team Finland 2026 olympics until further notice. Like it or not.

I mean voi vittu, where is the money from winning these golds last years. I'm sure there should be money to hire the best coach possible for team Leijonat. Especially during Olympics and the timing with the Finnish forward pool. But it's not the money that is the biggest problem or at least that is what I think. It's incompetence if anything.

Both Jalonens feel like the most exciting ones. Ahokas could be too young but he surely has one of the most impressive merits so far. A lot of golds and winning and should also have a modern touch.
I mean he´s the only one likely to ever be a coach in the NHL amongst Finnish coaches as well. Of course, not meaning that all the best coaches coach there. It's not that simple.

 

[karhukissa]

I mean voi vittu

Best opener i've seen here

 

[SantosHalper]

In the 4 nations our game was a big mess. NHL boys came to play and had no structure, apparently Pennanen just gave the game to the bois. Aho and Hintz were like ghosts.

I wouldn't put too much weight on 4Nations, it was practice tournament for Finland. In the Olympics there will be more time to work on.

 

[FloridaPanthersFan84]

Leijonat kyntää nyt harvinaisen heikosti MM-kisoissa – Jääkiekkoliiton puheenjohtajalta täysi tuki Antti Pennaselle

Leijonat on jäänyt kolme kertaa peräkkäin MM-kisojen mitalipelien ulkopuolelle. Jääkiekkoliiton puheenjohtaja harmittelee tuomaripäätöksiä, mutta uskoo karun putken korjaantuvan ensi vuonna.

yle.fi

Yada yada yada blaa blaa.
Of course liitto won't react because 'they're living everything is OK no need to changes bubble.

Head coach of men's national team is cluless sauna-club bozo.
President of hockey association is brain-dead moron.

Finnish hockey is so badly screwed up in 3 yrs and none of these idiots do not know what to do.
Brilliant absolutely f***ing brilliant.
What a disgrace.

 

[Sanf]

In all fairnes the problems that we are now facing weren´t created in this 3 year span. Usually when the problems show they have been already created 5 to even 10 years ago.

Jere Lehtinen is not often mentioned in here. He builds the team with the coaching staff. And kind of is the contact to NA often. It isn´t like joining NT has been sexy option. We have also seemed to lost players like Vatanen, Ma. Granlund, Hartikainen, Manninen, Rajala... I remember that atleast Granlund and Rajala were late cuts in 2023 for the team. Where are our Cervenkas.

This team wasn´t as bad as some say. But I think Pennanen and co. imitated Jalonen in creating this team.

 

[FiLe]

I'm actually glad that Liitto has Pennanen's back. Not because I'm particularly thrilled about having him as our coach, but because I think that in general even middling coaches shouldn't be fired on a dime.

Now, every coach knows that there are two kinds of coaches - those that have been fired at some point, and those that will be fired at some point. But guess what happens if you do make it a job with little to zero job security? Then no coach - even the competent ones - will want to sign on. The only ones that do are those with nothing to lose.

In the case of Pennanen, he'll be gone the next spring when his contract runs out if he shows no improvement.

 

[Svedu]

If a couple of euro players can stay healthy I hope seeing them playing for us and getting the opportunity during the WC's. These should be capable euro players and a step above some in Liiga etc and so on:
Janne Kuokkanen
Julius Nättinen
Jerry Turkulainen
Aleksi Heponiemi (If he can have a full good season in SHL and stay healthy. Same goes for Kuokkanen)
Markus Granlund (If interested, has basically won all)
Aleksi Saarela
Niko Ojamäki
Jesse Ylönen (If he's a good player in the SHL)
Santeri Hatakka (-II-)

Also a couple of possible AHL players should be above Liiga level if they can't make it in the nearest future: Hirvonen, Huuhtanen, Niemelä, Hyry, Räty, Roby Järventie (Liiga already), Mäntykivi.

Like in all honesty, we have players with top9 ability in Europe and probably better than most other European countries. If they face good NHLers they will probably be motivated as well. These names mentioned above aren't your semi decent player from Liiga or SHL. And I can't understand how Pennanen; Lehtinen and those jackasses can't manage to get these players or names.
I mean I can understand those players who already won a gold medal not participating. But to insist on Pesonen who has been great and worked hard for years before good options from NL who are 5-10 years younger is just strange and cowardly.

 

[ES]

Just three players have been in all of past three WCs: Björninen, Lehtonen and Oksanen.

 

[Sanf]

Just three players have been in all of past three WCs: Björninen, Lehtonen and Oksanen.

I was thinking abot this just yesterday when I was making/thinking of sort of all star team of the Finnish players that has never played in any major adult NT tournament. Especially in 90´s and early 00´s its still somewhat easy to find even Liiga or Elitserien stars and quality players that never participated to any major tournament. I mean there was decent depth back then, but there was also sort of core NT players. Nowdays it goes full circle in 3 to 4 years.

 

[Svedu]

If a couple of euro players can stay healthy I hope seeing them playing for us and getting the opportunity during the WC's. These should be capable euro players and a step above some in Liiga etc and so on:
Janne Kuokkanen
Julius Nättinen
Jerry Turkulainen
Aleksi Heponiemi (If he can have a full good season in SHL and stay healthy. Same goes for Kuokkanen)
Markus Granlund (If interested, has basically won all)
Aleksi Saarela
Niko Ojamäki
Jesse Ylönen (If he's a good player in the SHL)
Santeri Hatakka (-II-)

Also a couple of possible AHL players should be above Liiga level if they can't make it in the nearest future: Hirvonen, Huuhtanen, Niemelä, Hyry, Räty, Roby Järventie (Liiga already), Mäntykivi.

Like in all honesty, we have players with top9 ability in Europe and probably better than most other European countries. If they face good NHLers they will probably be motivated as well. These names mentioned above aren't your semi decent player from Liiga or SHL. And I can't understand how Pennanen; Lehtinen and those jackasses can't manage to get these players or names.
I mean I can understand those players who already won a gold medal not participating. But to insist on Pesonen who has been great and worked hard for years before good options from NL who are 5-10 years younger is just strange and cowardly.

Nice that we can add Kupari to this list. I both hope and think he has a lot of potential for Leijonat in euro WC's. Should mesh well with Heponiemi and a good scorer on their line.

Either (hopefully) he becomes a great NL player for a long time, think a bit like Markus Granlund, Rajala or say Cervenka for the Czechs. Or he bounces back to NHL and a fourth line role for Panthers with say Jesse or the Stars with say... Hyry. If he stays healthy and plays good for 1-2 years and gets back his confidence. He has the size and tools for those roles as well. Unlucky with injuries and concussion and good choice to try to bounce back. Competing for a spot against less talented players in bottom6 for the lousy Jets is just waste of a time.

Winnipeg Jets are truly a crucified organization for Finns. Neither will they win a single cup with their current core but they are playing it to safe with complementary pieces in their rosters. I'm not speaking about Ehlers, Perfetti or Connor. But those top4-6 instead of Heinola during the years is nothing but criminal. Those half assed top9 or bottom 6 instead of trying Lamberts speed on a wing etc. I mean they still won't win a dime with their current team. Chibrikov should've played at least half of a season in their top9 and PP2 as well. Why not pump in some longevity and competitiveness. Clueless organization and basically ruins every Finn that gets selected by them.
Heinola, Vesalainen, Nikkanen, Lambert etc... Did Nikkanen take a single step in development with the Jets? I think not. And I don't even blame him.
Hope they don't destroy upcoming Loponen...