WC: Team Finland

[Mestaruus]

Nah, Rask is in one of his "reikäjuusto" phases he gets every now and then. He would just be a liability for the team. Same for Rinne. Saros might be an improvement over Säteri though. Nothing wrong with Husso yet.

Rinne might indeed be shaken up if Nashville gets eliminated. They were expecting to win Stanley Cup after all and I think that his chances for Vezina may be gone if Nashville is out after this round so that would be a double bummer for him. His rivals for Vezina would probably continue in the playoffs, so I don't see that he would win it this time. He did say that he wanted to win the Vezina and it would be a great honor for him. This might be one of his last chances to get it due to his age, so he could be quite upset about it.

He got pulled twice from the goal during the series so I dunno how he would be mentally. Then again, he's Rinne and could just improve after some bad games.

I would still ask Rask first. Rask has refused couple of times so then I'd probably ask Rinne next. He might decline, so then hopefully Saros would give the green light.

 

[Mestaruus]

Well, our goalie plan going forward sure looks simple: give Säteri the game vs. Norway, Husso the game vs. Denmark - and then decide between Rask and Rinne vs. Canada.

If for some reason we wouldn't get any of those 3 goalies, I'd like if Husso and Säteri would both get one game vs a North-American team. However it's not always the smartest thing to do to create confusion between the goalies about who is #1 and #2, but this would be the true way to test them if they both would get a game vs NA teams.

 

[FiLe]

So Boston is out. I definitely agree with the notion of just asking Rask and forgetting about Nashville if he says yes.

If he doesn't show, then our next best bet is actually Rinne, if the Jets kick the Preds out. He has always had this boy scout mentality towards the NT, he must sense the special vibe of this team, and he'll be running out of options to win something. Saros greenlighting the call would be a surprise, IMO. He will be out of contract, and he doesn't have to prove anything to his paymasters. All he has to do is stay healthy and he'll be looking at the first seven-figure contract of his career. Backup money, so perhaps no more than 1.5M, but still double the amount he makes now.

 

[torniojaws]

Yep, it would be invaluable to have both of them play against proper teams in the early series where it doesn't matter if you win or lose, to see who should be used for the playoff games.

 

[Mestaruus]

If there's one player I'd like to get, it'd be Haula. In fact, I was hoping for him since the start of the tournament, but for a bit different reasons. Initially, I thought he'd make a nice centre piece for the Carolina duo, but the way Xavi has been playing with them, there's no way that unit's getting broken up any time soon. In fact, we're closer to coming up with a catchy nickname for them. Tehonainen? Eh, I digress. I'd still like to get Haula, but now I think he'd make a nice complementary piece for MiG and Rants. Granlund-Haula-Rantanen.

Kind of my thoughts exactly.

Instead of breaking Teuvo-Aho-Savinainen, I would consider increasing their time together in the form of making this our PP1 unit. Of course it's not necessary now since in that Latvia game there was some magic on the ice during those power plays but if things wouldn't work well vs Canada or USA, I would consider making the PP units like that, second unit being Kapanen (/Haula), MiG and Rantanen. Two defensemen on both units would be okay to me as well, but if Haula joined I'd remove one defenseman.

 

[torniojaws]

Backup money, so no more than perhaps 1.5M, but still double the amount he makes now.

He's played well enough that I wouldn't be surprised if NSH tries to cement him with a proper deal around 2M - 2.5M for 3 years. Especially since Rinne is quite likely to retire if they get eliminated now.

 

[Loffer]

I would still ask Rask first. Rask has refused couple of times so then I'd probably ask Rinne next. He might decline, so then hopefully Saros would give the green light.

A pecking order is always a thing you cannot ignore. And if the first two decline there is a nice consolation price in Saros who suits best to the this young team profile anyway. But with no further goalie additions, did Husso show today he can take the starter job and seal the goal with game savers needed against the premium teams?

 

[FiLe]

He's played well enough that I wouldn't be surprised if NSH tries to cement him with a proper deal around 2M - 2.5M for 3 years. Especially since Rinne is quite likely to retire if they get eliminated now.

Well, even more the reason for him to say no if Lehtinen comes calling.

 

[Ippenator]

I can't remember time when we have started a tournament this dominant on the scoreboard. Probably never.

Last year we scored 20 goals in 7 games. Now we have 16 in 2..

Also, last year Aho had a pretty darn good tournament already and he scored a very nice total amount of 11 points in 10 games. Now he has played two games and he has already 10 points! I mean, I know that he is an exceptionally talented player and I’m one of his biggest fans, but still seriously WTF!!??

 

[Mestaruus]

He's played well enough that I wouldn't be surprised if NSH tries to cement him with a proper deal around 2M - 2.5M for 3 years. Especially since Rinne is quite likely to retire if they get eliminated now.

I don't see him retiring yet. It would be a shocker to me. Rinne known to be a super nice person could just do it to make room for Saros though.

 

[FiLe]

I don't really see Rinne retiring just yet either. But Saros will still be looking at more money and more icetime come next season.

Well, if Peksi gets to hoist the Cup, then he just might.

 

[Plural]

Rinne might indeed be shaken up if Nashville gets eliminated. They were expecting to win Stanley Cup after all and I think that his chances for Vezina may be gone if Nashville is out after this round so that would be a double bummer for him. His rivals for Vezina would probably continue in the playoffs, so I don't see that he would win it this time. He did say that he wanted to win the Vezina and it would be a great honor for him. This might be one of his last chances to get it due to his age, so he could be quite upset about it.

He got pulled twice from the goal during the series so I dunno how he would be mentally. Then again, he's Rinne and could just improve after some bad games.

I would still ask Rask first. Rask has refused couple of times so then I'd probably ask Rinne next. He might decline, so then hopefully Saros would give the green light.

Vezina is already voted for. They know the winner, they just haven't published it yet. Playoffs don't matter one iota. The 'finalists' are the three goalies who had the most votes. Surprised people don't know this.

 

[Mestaruus]

I don't really see Rinne retiring just yet either. But Saros will still be looking at more money and more icetime come next season.

Well, if Peksi gets to hoist the Cup, then he just might.

My feeling is that Winnipeg ends the series tomorrow.

Manitoba is down 0-2 by the way (BO5). In the case of Winnipeg losing Niku would be free, but I already know what some would say here that we already got enough of offensive D-men. I would take him in the case of all other non goalies refusing the invite.

TheAHL.com

 

[Mestaruus]

Vezina is already voted for. They know the winner, they just haven't published it yet. Playoffs don't matter one iota. The 'finalists' are the three goalies who had the most votes. Surprised people don't know this.

Oh, that's awesome for Rinne then.

I remember when Price won it and if I remember right Montreal didn't even make it to the PO or they got eliminated quickly on the first round with Price not showing much. So that made me thinking that it wasn't the right guy who got it based on a lot of stuff happening after the regular season. So he did deserve it then if it's just a regular season award.

 

[Plural]

Oh, that's awesome for Rinne then.

I remember when Price won it and if I remember right Montreal didn't even make it to the PO or they got eliminated quickly on the first round with Price not showing much. So that made me think that it wasn't the right guy who got it based on a lot of stuff happening after the regular season.

Yeah,it's voted after the RS. Like every award. So what happens in the playoffs don't matter for the awards. It certainly is good for Rinne. I think Helle would beat him if the PO's were taken in to account. And Vasi too.

I do think Rinne won the vote. So we'll see him winning the Vezina.

I doubt he has interest in WHC though.

 

[FiLe]

Manitoba is down 0-2 by the way (BO5). In the case of Winnipeg losing Niku would be free, but I already know what some would say here that we already got enough of offensive D-men. I would take him in the case of all other non goalies refusing the invite.

Not that I'd complain if our management decided to invite Niku, but I see him being so much a non-factor in their plans that I wouldn't even speculate with him.

 

[Mestaruus]

Yeah,it's voted after the RS. Like every award. So what happens in the playoffs don't matter for the awards. It certainly is good for Rinne. I think Helle would beat him if the PO's were taken in to account. And Vasi too.

I do think Rinne won the vote. So we'll see him winning the Vezina.

I doubt he has interest in WHC though.

Me too. They shouldn't give the award based on history/other seasons but I think there will be little bit of that too in Rinne's case. There were some seasons were Rinne should've won it and it would feel wrong if Rinne retired with never winning it. So since all the 3 candidates are rather close stats wise after regular season, I think that history will turn it to Rinne's favor, but you never know. I know for a fact that Canadian or American players sometimes get these awards easier than others.

 

[Ippenator]

Not that I'd complain if our management decided to invite Niku, but I see him being so much a non-factor in their plans that I wouldn't even speculate with him.

Niku is an enormously better defenceman than Pokka. And better than most of the defencemen in the team. I would so much rather have Niku instead of Pokka.

 

[Ippenator]

Niku is an enormously better defenceman than Pokka. And better than most of the defencemen in the team. I would so much rather have Niku instead of Pokka.

But I dont think that the Jets will lose the series against the Preds, so in that way it might be useless to speculate about him.

 

[Gsus]

If Nashville gets taken out, I doubt Rinne comes. He had a long run last year and if this year they fell short, he's disappointed and wants to take some time for himself. On the other hand, he could end things on a high note if he comes and they have success (gold). For Rask the same thing.

Saros hasn't played a whole lot and for that reason he could very well come. Players want to play and he's been mostly sitting on the bench. He has positive experiences from the national team. If Marjamäki really pushes for him I think there's a good chance. This team has what it takes to get to the gold. Saros is also good kid and I can't see him saying 'no thanks I've just been sitting so much on the bench it hurts'.

 

[Mestaruus]

But I dont think that the Jets will lose the series against the Preds, so in that way it might be useless to speculate about him.

Nashville just needs to steal one away game now and then it's a hell for Winnipeg having to go back to Nashville for the decider/G7. Winnipeg's form is really strong now though, so have to predict and say that Winnipeg ends it now.

 

[Mestaruus]

If Nashville gets taken out, I doubt Rinne comes. He had a long run last year and if this year they fell short, he's disappointed and wants to take some time for himself. On the other hand, he could end things on a high note if he comes and they have success (gold). For Rask the same thing.

Saros hasn't played a whole lot and for that reason he could very well come. Players want to play and he's been mostly sitting on the bench. He has positive experiences from the national team. If Marjamäki really pushes for him I think there's a good chance. This team has what it takes to get to the gold. Saros is also good kid and I can't see him saying 'no thanks I've just been sitting so much on the bench it hurts'.

Must agree. One goalie is guaranteed to come if Nashville is taken out and I hope it's Rask.

 

[FiLe]

Niku is an enormously better defenceman than Pokka. And better than most of the defencemen in the team. I would so much rather have Niku instead of Pokka.

Yep, Pokka has definitely entered the Berg/Kukkonen/Mäntylä club. And almost certainly not by his own fault. He simply happened to get picked over somebody else some random one-minded Karelia Cap happened to consider better, even if that is purely debatable.

 

[Gsus]

Must agree. One goalie is guaranteed to come if Nashville is taken out and I hope it's Rask.

At this point Saros might be the better choice over Rask. Rask allowed some bad goals against the Bolts and isn't playing even near his best. Saros has done what he's capable of and has basically done that ever since he left Finland. He's a great goalie. Playing behind a Vezina contender might make him look somewhat lesser than Rask but actually they're on par with each other at the very least.

 

[FiLe]

Saros hasn't played a whole lot and for that reason he could very well come. Players want to play and he's been mostly sitting on the bench. He has positive experiences from the national team. If Marjamäki really pushes for him I think there's a good chance. This team has what it takes to get to the gold. Saros is also good kid and I can't see him saying 'no thanks I've just been sitting so much on the bench it hurts'.

What about when Saros' agent reminds him of the huge raise he's about to receive this summer, as long as he keeps his keister glued to that bench?

I agree with everything else that's been said about Saros, he's as good as any actual NHL starter we have and would be a huge asset, but his contract situation does make his arrival perhaps the most unlikely of the three.