Olympics: Team Finland 2026
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SantosHalper
Get off my lawn
Olympic team is shaping up nicely. I assume it's 25-men roster.
Kaapo Kakko - Aleksander Barkov(C) - Mikko Rantanen(A)
Mikael Granlund(A) - Sebastian Aho - Patrik Laine
Teuvo Teräväinen - Roope Hintz - Eeli Tolvanen
Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Artturi Lehkonen
X, X
Miro Heiskanen - Rasmus Ristolainen
Esa Lindell - Henri Jokiharju
Mikko Lehtonen - Niko Mikkola
Olli Määttä - Nikolas Matinpalo
Juuse Saros
Kevin Lankinen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
- IMO Kakko-Barkov-Rantanen was the best working 1st in 4Nations. And it looks like Kakko has found another gear in Seattle, good off-season training next summer and we could see even better Kakko next year. Barkov-Rantanen started to work better when 4Nations went on.
- Lion king Granlund will take Finland to the medal round alone. And when Aho bounces back to his level, him and Granlund will be able to rip everything from Laine, that shot is still a threat. 3L-line worked well but if we want the best Laine, he needs to be playing with real line drivers. In the final minutes of the Canada game, Granlund and Laine started to show chemistry.
- Hintz was a big disappointment in 4Nations, perhaps the biggest. But it was a 1st men's tournament, maybe tha effected his play some way. So start him in a smaller role and with easiest matchups in the 3rd, secondary scoring line. Teräväinen wasn't used properly in the 4Nations, big minus for Pennanen but after he analyzes that tournament, he should realize that there is a better role for him. TT is still one of our top playmakers and this team needs more scoring threat and that's why Tolvanen is there next to Teuvo. Hintz handles the defensive responsibilities, TT drives the line and makes the plays, Eeli finishes them and Hintz drives to the net.
- 4th is the shutdown line, Luostarinen-Lundell also the 1st PK unit. As much as Lehkonen and Rantanen has chemistry and the 1st line needs a forechecker, in the 4Nations i didn't see Lehkonen fitting in that big of a role in best-on-best tournament. I think we will get more out of him in 4th, next to L&L. The way Kakko is trending now, i think he will do better job than Lehkonen in the 1st and make the 1st more dangerous.
- 13F & 14F spots open. Maybe top-6 reserve player and bottom-6 reserve player.
- We desperately need Heiskanen, no question about it. Our D did worked better than expected in the 4Nations but we need our leading D, Lindell and Mikkola in other pairs improves makes our defense much better. TOI evens out more and less fatigue on everyone. RR55 can handle his role next to Heiskanen and lefty & righty matches well.
- Lindell played well in the 4Nations and that's why i'd split him him and Heiskanen, 2nd pair becomes much stronger and naturally adds much needed depth. Jokiharju in the other hand was one of the biggest surprises in the 4Nations, moved well and was confident with the puck. Hopefully gets out of Buffalo and moves somewhere where gets more minutes and that built up that confidence.
- Lehtonen is our 2nd best PMD and that back end surely needs another one addition to Heiskanen. So far Heinola hasn't done anything to get in this team and Välimäki didn't get to play in 4Nations at all. And Välimäki doesn't get much PP minutes in the NHL either. So im starting to feel that Lehtonen has been pencilled in as PP2 QB. Mikkola will be a big help for Lehtonen in defensive zone.
- Traditional shutdown pair, Määttä always delivers, factory guarantee. If there was any doubt, there ain't any doubt left any more. Matinpalo impressed the heck out of me in the 4Nations, he just didn't show up to watch, he came to play. Was physical and wasn't afraid the play with the puck either, used his shot very well. I think he stole the final spot. His handness fits better with Määttä than Välimäki would and Hakanpää is damaged goods. Vaakanainen looked slow in the 4Nations, no need to make the team any slower than it already is. Matinpalo looked way more mobile than Vaakanainen.
- Goalies, hopefully Saros finds that 2014 WJC groove or Lankinen the 2019 nevö föge-form. Or that Luukkonen becomes a new Niittymäki.
Kaapo Kakko - Aleksander Barkov(C) - Mikko Rantanen(A)
Mikael Granlund(A) - Sebastian Aho - Patrik Laine
Teuvo Teräväinen - Roope Hintz - Eeli Tolvanen
Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Artturi Lehkonen
X, X
Miro Heiskanen - Rasmus Ristolainen
Esa Lindell - Henri Jokiharju
Mikko Lehtonen - Niko Mikkola
Olli Määttä - Nikolas Matinpalo
Juuse Saros
Kevin Lankinen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
- IMO Kakko-Barkov-Rantanen was the best working 1st in 4Nations. And it looks like Kakko has found another gear in Seattle, good off-season training next summer and we could see even better Kakko next year. Barkov-Rantanen started to work better when 4Nations went on.
- Lion king Granlund will take Finland to the medal round alone. And when Aho bounces back to his level, him and Granlund will be able to rip everything from Laine, that shot is still a threat. 3L-line worked well but if we want the best Laine, he needs to be playing with real line drivers. In the final minutes of the Canada game, Granlund and Laine started to show chemistry.
- Hintz was a big disappointment in 4Nations, perhaps the biggest. But it was a 1st men's tournament, maybe tha effected his play some way. So start him in a smaller role and with easiest matchups in the 3rd, secondary scoring line. Teräväinen wasn't used properly in the 4Nations, big minus for Pennanen but after he analyzes that tournament, he should realize that there is a better role for him. TT is still one of our top playmakers and this team needs more scoring threat and that's why Tolvanen is there next to Teuvo. Hintz handles the defensive responsibilities, TT drives the line and makes the plays, Eeli finishes them and Hintz drives to the net.
- 4th is the shutdown line, Luostarinen-Lundell also the 1st PK unit. As much as Lehkonen and Rantanen has chemistry and the 1st line needs a forechecker, in the 4Nations i didn't see Lehkonen fitting in that big of a role in best-on-best tournament. I think we will get more out of him in 4th, next to L&L. The way Kakko is trending now, i think he will do better job than Lehkonen in the 1st and make the 1st more dangerous.
- 13F & 14F spots open. Maybe top-6 reserve player and bottom-6 reserve player.
- We desperately need Heiskanen, no question about it. Our D did worked better than expected in the 4Nations but we need our leading D, Lindell and Mikkola in other pairs improves makes our defense much better. TOI evens out more and less fatigue on everyone. RR55 can handle his role next to Heiskanen and lefty & righty matches well.
- Lindell played well in the 4Nations and that's why i'd split him him and Heiskanen, 2nd pair becomes much stronger and naturally adds much needed depth. Jokiharju in the other hand was one of the biggest surprises in the 4Nations, moved well and was confident with the puck. Hopefully gets out of Buffalo and moves somewhere where gets more minutes and that built up that confidence.
- Lehtonen is our 2nd best PMD and that back end surely needs another one addition to Heiskanen. So far Heinola hasn't done anything to get in this team and Välimäki didn't get to play in 4Nations at all. And Välimäki doesn't get much PP minutes in the NHL either. So im starting to feel that Lehtonen has been pencilled in as PP2 QB. Mikkola will be a big help for Lehtonen in defensive zone.
- Traditional shutdown pair, Määttä always delivers, factory guarantee. If there was any doubt, there ain't any doubt left any more. Matinpalo impressed the heck out of me in the 4Nations, he just didn't show up to watch, he came to play. Was physical and wasn't afraid the play with the puck either, used his shot very well. I think he stole the final spot. His handness fits better with Määttä than Välimäki would and Hakanpää is damaged goods. Vaakanainen looked slow in the 4Nations, no need to make the team any slower than it already is. Matinpalo looked way more mobile than Vaakanainen.
- Goalies, hopefully Saros finds that 2014 WJC groove or Lankinen the 2019 nevö föge-form. Or that Luukkonen becomes a new Niittymäki.
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