Toggle sidebar

Team Finland WC 2023

I think that I won't utilize the full UFA line and I will do the following. I also think that this is what Jalonen will do. He will continue trying MaG-Suomela-Kapanen in the EHT Czechia tournament, which proved to be a good line. Let's remember that the full UFA line can be put together in the middle of the tournament if some lines aren't working, because they have past chemistry that won't just disappear that quickly. So MaG sort of is the glue for 2 lines now and I'm surprised about that, because I wasn't sure few weeks ago that he will be selected to the WHC at all, but he has been good in the practice games, so he proved that wrong. Ahti Oksanen will play some games and especially if injuries happen, but I see Jalonen having Sallinen over him at the moment. There's just so much history between Jalonen & Sallinen and it has mostly lead to success as well.

Hartikainen-Manninen-Laine
MaG-Suomela-Kapanen
Pesonen-Lammikko-Armia
Sallinen-Björninen-Anttila

Florida being eliminated would change a lot of things. I expect 2 players to come from that series. Maybe one of them has a small injury so I won't be too optimistic about having all 3 of them. Some said Barkov might be banged up, so we'll see.
 
Last edited:
Mestaruus said:
Too bad that even the NJ-NYR series had to go to game 7. I was hoping for some luck on getting Kakko. Lately we haven't been very lucky with the NHL results. Well maybe on the upcoming night we get at least one good result from the Florida series or Colorado series, but I got to say I'm not so sure about that, because of the way these NHL series have gone lately.

Few more players to mention who didn't get invited or didn't want to join: Savinainen & Lehterä. I'm more surprised about Savinainen, but maybe we had enough wingers as it is. The guy's so clutch though, but with him it's probably the age factor and international games have a different pace compared to Liiga.

On Mikael Granlund. I haven't 100% given up hope on getting him, but doesn't look promising that we havent heard anything about that. I would love to hear a "no" answer so we can stop speculating on that.
Click to expand...
I wonder if they would wait for a few guys until the end of 2nd round. Dallas-Colorado matchup is very possible. And idm if games go to game 7, there is still a change of Panthers and Avalanche being out tomorrow. Still got almost 2 weeks before the tournament.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Mestaruus
FinPanda said:
I wonder if they would wait for a few guys until the end of 2nd round. Dallas-Colorado matchup every possible. And idm if games go to game 7, there is still a change of Panthers and Avalanche being out tomorrow. Still got almost 2 weeks before the tournament.
Click to expand...

I hope that 2-3 slots will be kept open for some late arrivals. Getting someone like Aho, Rantanen, Heiskanen or Barkov are players that make an impact, even if they aren't at their 100%.
 
I am still curious at Luukkonen not even being considered. Or was there an official decline that I haven't seen.
 
I had to remind myself about the player entry rules and go to the IIHF.com website. Funny thing is that when I go to the men's tournament rules, they have clearly copied this from Junior Worlds as this is the direct quote. I assume it's the same rule for men's tournament though:

"The maximum number of players allowed on a Team Registration Form at the beginning of the World Junior Championship is 22 skaters and 3 goalies. The minimum is 15 skaters and 2 goalkeepers."

IIHF - Tournament Info 2023 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

IIHF - Tournament Info 2023 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
www.iihf.com www.iihf.com

So a full J.Jalonen type line up with 4 defender pairs would already lock in 20 players (12 forwards + 8 defenders), meaning that we would have only 2 unregistered player slots left if Jalonen goes to the first WHC game with 20 registered players. So based on that it's good to assume that Jalonen keeps a maximumof 2 registered player slots open for round 2 exit players, but there's still a lot of time and some of those round 2 series can be close to done when the WHC tournament starts.
 
Mestaruus said:
I assume it's the same rule for men's tournament though
Click to expand...
That's what it's always been, save for the '21, Beijing and '22 editions, when they allowed three extra players due to COVID. Though even then, the extras could only be called up if any players in the regular squad tested positive.

(Note though that for the WJC, it actually used to be 20+3, but they extended it to the same as Men's a couple of years ago.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mestaruus
Jukurit said:
Is Luukkonen even any good? His stats are bad in AHL and NHL. Finland probably has other goaltenders who are better than him.


Niku is bad defensively so that's why he's probably not there.
Click to expand...

He's very inconsistent but did have a rookie of the month in the NHL. *shrug*
 
  • Like
Reactions: illone84
Florida moves on, so Barkov & Co won't come. Such a shame, would have been amazing to see Laine-Barkov combo. I'm a little worried, especially if MiG doesn't join.
 
Call me evil if you like, but I couldn't help but laugh when the Panthers equalized it with less than a minute to go, because I was thinking that Mestaruus is right now out there somewhere, probably having a heart attack.

Sorry, buddy. I hope you're okay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: behemolari
Isola said:
Florida moves on, so Barkov & Co won't come. Such a shame, would have been amazing to see Laine-Barkov combo. I'm a little worried, especially if MiG doesn't join.
Click to expand...
If / when Panthers get eliminated by Toronto Maple-Leafs
after NHL's 2nd playoff round Barkov, Lundell and Luostarinen can join into team after that. No hurry.
 
Chainshot said:
I am still curious at Luukkonen not even being considered. Or was there an official decline that I haven't seen.
Click to expand...
Luukkonen hasn't played any national team games under Jukka Jalonen.
Jalonen takes players who he knows well and trusts them 150%.

And even if Luukkonen would've joined
into Team Finland's IIHF worlds roster he would've been 3rd goalie not else.

Olkinuora is clear number 1 goalie and right-fully so.
You don't put last IIHF worlds best goalie and MVP 2nd or 3rd goalie.
 
Well, that's another upset for the night. But this time, potentially far more exciting one for Team Finland. Guess we'll see.

Heck, I just realized that if Rantanen comes, we can use him as a center. Would open so many new options.

Also... has anyone checked in on Mestaruus?
 
  • Like
Reactions: JabbaJabba
FiLe said:
Call me evil if you like, but I couldn't help but laugh when the Panthers equalized it with less than a minute to go, because I was thinking that Mestaruus is right now out there somewhere, probably having a heart attack.

Sorry, buddy. I hope you're okay.
Click to expand...

File, since we are throwing jabs here, I'm not a vampire who watches the games too late at night ;). Okay it is Vappu time so I'll forgive you for your vampiric tendencies. Well I sticked to the NHL recap/highlights. That certainly could've been some heartattacks if I had watched it live, you're right.

It looked like we were destined to get nothing. Hockey gods aren't Finnish, that's for sure. Before the Boston-Florida game 7 had started it felt like Florida advances and well that happened, but did it have to happen the way it did. Just wow.

Great that it all didn't go bad in the end and now we have a chance to get Rantanen and small chance on Lehkonen as well. Tomorrow there's still a chance to get Kakko. That would be an overload of wingers though and we already have a good bunch of those but these guys would be upgrades for sure. Something tells me that we would just get 2 out of those 3 max even if all would be available. Rantanen as center, hmm maybe. I don't see that happening though.
 
ChicagoBullsFan said:
Olkinuora is clear number 1 goalie and right-fully so.
You don't put last IIHF worlds best goalie and MVP 2nd or 3rd goalie.
Click to expand...

I think that Larmi has a legit shot for #1 goalie. I'm guessing that they get shared duty when the tournament starts and the games will show. Olkinuora did let 6 goals in the last game against Sweden and well his end of the season was not perfect with his club team. I'm not 100% convinced on him, but he did have some good games with Finland lately as well.

ChicagoBullsFan said:
If / when Panthers get eliminated by Toronto Maple-Leafs
after NHL's 2nd playoff round Barkov, Lundell and Luostarinen can join into team after that. No hurry.
Click to expand...

Heiskanen and Dallas out, which would be a big uprade to our defender department would be my preference. I doubt that Jalonen saves many slots for late arrivals. Heiskanen + one of Aho/Barkov/Hintz would do as well if not Heiskanen + Lindell again. Here it matters which series would end the fastest and of course these superstar Finns would have to be on the losing side.
 
Mestaruus said:
I think that Larmi has a legit shot for #1 goalie. I'm guessing that they get shared duty when the tournament starts and the games will show. Olkinuora did let 6 goals in the last game against Sweden and well his end of the season was not perfect with his club team. I'm not 100% convinced on him, but he did have some good games with Finland lately as well.



Heiskanen and Dallas out, which would be a big uprade to our defender department would be my preference. I doubt that Jalonen saves many slots for late arrivals. Heiskanen + one of Aho/Barkov/Hintz would do as well if not Heiskanen + Lindell again. Here it matters which series would end the fastest and of course these superstar Finns would have to be on the losing side.
Click to expand...
Just gotta hope Jalonen leaves 2-3 spot open.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mestaruus
Mestaruus said:
Rantanen as center, hmm maybe. I don't see that happening though.
Click to expand...
He was very much playing center in the game that just ended (or constantly switching positions with MacKinnon), even taking key faceoffs at those waning minutes.

The reason I threw it out there is because we have so many good offensive wingers already (and a chance for more if we end up getting Lehkonen and Kakko too), so some of them are probably going to be slotted in the 3rd line, which would likely mean they'd be centered by Lammikko. And while I don't consider Lammikko a liability overall, his strengths lie elsewhere than generating some offense.

Rantanen as center becomes especially worth considering if we end up getting one of Lehkonen/Kakko, too (and even more so if we get both) :

Laine - Rantanen - Lehkonen/Kakko
Granlund - Manninen - Hartikainen
Kapanen - Suomela - Armia
Oksanen - Björninen - Anttila

Now, do the exercise with Rantanen as a winger and Lammikko as 3C. Getting a bit crowded at those wings, doesn't it?

Even without both Lehkonen and Kakko, you can bump Kapanen or Armia up and insert Pesonen (or maybe even Merelä) into the 3rd for the same effect.
 
Mestaruus said:
I think that Larmi has a legit shot for #1 goalie. I'm guessing that they get shared duty when the tournament starts and the games will show. Olkinuora did let 6 goals in the last game against Sweden and well his end of the season was not perfect with his club team. I'm not 100% convinced on him, but he did have some good games with Finland lately as well.
Click to expand...
One thing worth considering is that they added two goalies for this final preliminary week.

I mean, why invite both Larmi and Heljanko straight out of tough playoff series if one of them was already destined to be 3rd string? If Olkinuora really was locked in as the starter, it would have made far more sense to just add one of them and let Lehtinen or Taponen keep hanging around as the reserve option.

So, yeah. Last year was last year and now us now, and Olkinuora's not-so-stellar record this season should not make things so clear cut. Which the recent adds indeed indicate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mestaruus
FiLe said:
He was very much playing center in the game that just ended (or constantly switching positions with MacKinnon), even taking key faceoffs at those waning minutes.

The reason I threw it out there is because we have so many good offensive wingers already (and a chance for more if we end up getting Lehkonen and Kakko too), so some of them are probably going to be slotted in the 3rd line, which would likely mean they'd be centered by Lammikko. And while I don't consider Lammikko a liability overall, his strengths lie elsewhere than generating some offense.

Rantanen as center becomes especially worth considering if we end up getting one of Lehkonen/Kakko, too (and even more so if we get both) :

Laine - Rantanen - Lehkonen/Kakko
Granlund - Manninen - Hartikainen
Kapanen - Suomela - Armia
Oksanen - Björninen - Anttila

Now, do the exercise with Rantanen as a winger and Lammikko as 3C. Getting a bit crowded at those wings, doesn't it?

Even without both Lehkonen and Kakko, you can bump Kapanen or Armia up and insert Pesonen (or maybe even Merelä) into the 3rd for the same effect.
Click to expand...

Oh okay. I thought that they did the Rantanen center only thing some games ago but if they did that just now, then the recency raises the chances for us using Rantanen as center as well. Rantanen always shares the faceoffs with Nathan Mäkinen though.

I wouldn't mind doing the Lammikko out and Rantanen center experiment that you suggested. Which centers are the PK centers though? Suomela plays PK then or do we put Lammikko in after all. Lammikko was surprisingly productive offensively this season in Switzerland. 40 points in 52 games (24 goals + 16 assists).

BTW to me it's a no brainer that Sallinen > Oksanen in the hierarchy of Jalonen. No matter how good Oksanen has played, the opposition has been mostly Denmark & Norway so far. Sallinen is another backup center which Jalonen loves to have for having more powerful faceoffs and in case injuries would happen.

Rantanen-Suomela-Laine
Hartikainen-Manninen-Kapanen
Lehkonen-Lammikko-Armia
Sallinen-Björninen-Anttila

It would hurt to drop Pesonen & MaG out. They have been good.

PP1: Lehkonen - Suomela - Rantanen
Laine - Lehtonen

PP2: Kapanen - Manninen - Hartikainen
Kemiläinen - Määttä/Armia

PK forward pairs:

Björninen + Anttila
Lammikko + Sallinen/Armia
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom