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Team Finland WC 2023

mattihp said:
Wrong skating style, would need to move his feet more. Pakarinen however.. I cannot understand how he doesn't score more in Europe and why he isn't a fourth liner in the NHL. Looks brilliant on the national team. Always looks pretty darn skilled and strong. Can play some D too.
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Maybe Björninen could be a good 4th liner in NHL?
 
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Artorius Horus T said:
Also, i have not liked Markus Granlund's game of late with team Finland, so i would put Harri Pesonen in to replace Granlund.
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Wasn't Markus Granlund one of the best players of Finland lately?

illone84 said:
Yes. Unfortunately he is out. Tyly uutinen Leijonille – Stanley Cup -voittaja jättää MM-kisat väliin
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Not surprising. It's probably true that his finger needs more healing, but it could very well be an excuse not to go as well. I always had some little Ristolainen vibes about him. He has done just 5 games with the men's national team ever. Was it Olympics? Maybe he is injured now but he's had plenty of opportunities to play with team Finland when he was with Montreal, but I don't know if it's his dad telling him or what but he doesn't seem to care that much about the national team.
 
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Mestaruus said:
Wasn't Markus Granlund one of the best players of Finland lately?



Not surprising. It's probably true that his finger needs more healing, but it could very well be an excuse not to go as well. I always had some little Ristolainen vibes about him. He has done just 5 games with the men's national team ever. Was it Olympics? Maybe he is injured now but he's had plenty of opportunities to play with team Finland when he was with Montreal, but I don't know if it's his dad telling him or what but he doesn't seem to care that much about the national team.
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I'm not too sure about lehkonen to be honest. Didn't pay much attention to him until mtl went on that Cinderella run in 2020. Of course watched him a lot during his junior career but not much after that. I guess he is burned out and only recovered a month ago from his injury. Anyways, doubt we'll see him anytime soon playing in the Skoda cup. That's why we need a best on best.
 
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Eye of Ra said:
how did markus granlund and lindhbom never turn into good NHLers? both are very good and have physical strenght
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I'd say not efficient enough in the offensive end. It doesn't leave a lasting impression in the NHL if you don't have any big strengths and you are just well rounded. More good examples of this are guys like Mäenalanen, Suomela (back then didn't score enough), Pakarinen and the list goes on.

mattihp said:
Wrong skating style, would need to move his feet more. Pakarinen however.. I cannot understand how he doesn't score more in Europe and why he isn't a fourth liner in the NHL. Looks brilliant on the national team. Always looks pretty darn skilled and strong. Can play some D too.
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Fourth liner types or bottom liners are just not very valued in the NHL. Hartikainen in Europe now is more of a top-6 guy, but back in the NHL he wasn't efficient enough scorer and as you said, skating. Fourth liners come and they go, unless they have a special skill/ability. It's also about salary cap things. It's just so easy to replace them and at the same time teams want to give a look for younger players and see their NHL potential.
 
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karhukissa said:
Kippo Kappo and Jalonen reunited, now please give us Rantanen! Jesus christ that PP with Laine and Rantanen, run for your lives. And Kappo in front of the net.
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That would be an awesome unit. My feeling on Laine playing now is about 50%. I almost want to count him out to have a softer landing if the disappointment of him not joining happens.
 
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Laine/Eeli[/TD]
[TD]Rantanen[/TD]
[TD]Kakko[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Kotka/Luostar[/TD]
[TD]Aho/Barkov/Lundell/Hintz[/TD]
[TD]Kapanen[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]MAGA[/TD]
[TD]Manninen[/TD]
[TD]Hartikaine[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Armia[/TD]
[TD]Björnine[/TD]
[TD]Mörkö[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Hopefully Jalonen waits at least 3 players from round 2 if they say yes before. Best case scenario for forwards is still very good looking. I expect Carolina to lose at least and Dallas to advance. Florida 50/50.

Add Tampere-boy Välimäki to the defence and this could be best roster we have seen for decades. But for now, it isn't even close to this..
 
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LOFIN said:
No, it's literally just a different reporter using the same direct quote from Kakko.

But I don't think GM Lehtinen is going to say no to Kakko so...
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Now it is official:

leijonat.fi

Leijonat - Kaapo Kakko edustaa Suomea MM-kisoissa

New York Rangersin hyökkääjä Kaapo Kakko, 22, pelaa ensi viikolla Tampereella käynnistyvissä MM-kisoissa. Kakko liittyy Leijonien mukaan, kun Suomen joukkue kokoontuu tiistaina 9. toukokuuta Tampereelle. - Hienoa, että saamme Kakon mukaan muutaman vuoden tauon j&au...
leijonat.fi leijonat.fi
 
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With Kakko joining, RW is getting pretty crowded. Apart from Kakko, we have Laine (if he can play), Kapanen, Hartikainen and Armia for top-9 slots. If Rantanen joins too, placing him at center seems almost a given. And even as it is, they'll have to move some of these names to LW. I'm guessing they'll start with Laine (again, fingers crossed) and Kapanen.
 
I really believe the team is pretty much done aside from Rantanen (if he comes) and 2-3 players from the second round. Preferably center or defencemen. Heiskanen and Barkov the dream obviously.
 
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FiLe said:
With Kakko joining, RW is getting pretty crowded. Apart from Kakko, we have Laine (if he can play), Kapanen, Hartikainen and Armia for top-9 slots. If Rantanen joins too, placing him at center seems almost a given. And even as it is, they'll have to move some of these names to LW. I'm guessing they'll start with Laine (again, fingers crossed) and Kapanen.
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I like the idea of Laine on the left, have a fuzzy recollection he was lethal on that side when younger
 
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FiLe said:
With Kakko joining, RW is getting pretty crowded. Apart from Kakko, we have Laine (if he can play), Kapanen, Hartikainen and Armia for top-9 slots. If Rantanen joins too, placing him at center seems almost a given. And even as it is, they'll have to move some of these names to LW. I'm guessing they'll start with Laine (again, fingers crossed) and Kapanen.
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I think Laine plays just as well lw. Kapanen plays better lw.
 
FiLe said:
With Kakko joining, RW is getting pretty crowded. Apart from Kakko, we have Laine (if he can play), Kapanen, Hartikainen and Armia for top-9 slots. If Rantanen joins too, placing him at center seems almost a given. And even as it is, they'll have to move some of these names to LW. I'm guessing they'll start with Laine (again, fingers crossed) and Kapanen.
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I like Laine better on the left anyway. And like you said Kapanen fits well there too.

Laine - Suomela - Kakko
Granlund - Manninen- Hartikainen
Kapanen - Lammikko - Armia
Pesonen - Björninen - Anttila

Hopefully can add Rantanen soon but that's not a bad roster as it is.
 
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Kibe said:
I like Laine better on the left anyway. And like you said Kapanen fits well there too.

Laine - Suomela - Kakko
Granlund - Manninen- Hartikainen
Kapanen - Lammikko - Armia
Pesonen - Björninen - Anttila

Hopefully can add Rantanen soon but that's not a bad roster as it is.
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Who would Rantanen push out? Lammikko or Pesonen?

One of Laine, Armia or Rantanen would probably have to play center :D
 
That was fast, i was expecting that after the EHT tournament they are going to announce that Kakko joins the team.

Granlund - Manninen - Hartikainen
Kakko - Suomela - Kapanen
Pesonen - Lammikko - Armia
Sallinen - Björninen - Anttila
Rajala, Ruohomaa

Lehtonen - Seppälä
Määttä - Kemiläinen
Lindbohm - Friman
Ohtamaa - Pokka

Olkinuora
Larmi
Heljanko
 
mattihp said:
Who would Rantanen push out? Lammikko or Pesonen?

One of Laine, Armia or Rantanen would probably have to play center :D
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Has to be Pesonen out in my opinon. Pesonen's battle for the spot is with MaG and MaG has been good on the camp just like Pesonen has been but MaG now has proven chemistry with both Suomela and Manninen so that's unfortunate for Pesonen. Pesonen's other chance is if Laine can't play.

Line up without Laine but with Rantanen.

Rantanen-Suomela-Kapanen
MaG-Manninen-Hartikainen
Kakko-Lammikko-Armia
Sallinen-Björninen-Mörkö

Line up without Laine and without Rantanen.

Kakko-Suomela-Kapanen
MaG-Manninen-Hartikainen
Pesonen-Lammikko-Armia
Sallinen-Björninen-Mörkö

It's probably needless to say that it gets real fun if we get both Laine & Rantanen. I'd still have Rantanen as a winger proably. I want to see Suomela given his chance at #1 center. His season in SHL was insane and I'm guessing we don't see that offensively productive season from a Finn in SHL in the next 20 years.

I got Larmi being the starter for now but it's an open battle really with Olkinuora and the tournament games will show.
 
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