Personally Im expecting him to dominate every single game. Brayden Schenn absolutely ripped the WJC's apart last year, and I consider Granlund to be a much better prospect. His playmaking skills + the fact that he'll probably have some great wingers in Pulkkinen/Donskoi etc. makes me to think that anything short of two points-per-game pace over the tournament is a major disappointment.
The Saint Mikael Granlund hypetrain part 2 (saucer passes turning to wine!)
- Thread starter Jussi
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Personally Im expecting him to dominate every single game. Brayden Schenn absolutely ripped the WJC's apart last year, and I consider Granlund to be a much better prospect. His playmaking skills + the fact that he'll probably have some great wingers in Pulkkinen/Donskoi etc. makes me to think that anything short of two points-per-game pace over the tournament is a major disappointment.
joe89
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He's gonna dominate the PP but small rinks makes it hard to dominate 5on5 against the better Nations, same goes for any player. Also, Finland J20 is not as good as the men's team which makes it a lot easier to put most of your focus on shutting down Granlund's line. He'd have a much easier time dominating playing on a deep team.
That said, he's my clear choice to win the scoring race.
All good points, alot depends on how well Pulkkinen (or whoever they make him play with) plays.
You nailed it. Granlunds best ability is to use his linemates as weapons. He can do things going alone and make bad players look better but hes more lethal when he have good players to play with. If Granlund would play in deep Canada roster or even Sweden, no doubt he would destroy this tournament. Hard to think many as good PP players than Granlund in that tournament. I think he's among best in europe if not even best ATM. His projected line is to play with Markus Granlund and Teemu Pulkkinen. They are quite useless in defensive-zone, except for Mikael Granlund. I wouldn't be suprised if they would spend more in the D than in the offense against strong nations. Finland should have one of the strongest PP in the tournament. Pulkkinen is an very good PP player aswell.
Jussi
Registered User
Denmark. But other 3 teams are quite good teams. You have good point. I wouldn't be too suprised if any foward from Russia wins it. Switzerland is actually pretty good. They have Bartchi and Niederreiter. Better than Czechs so far. I hope that we face Russia in the QF. Sweden is poison to us.
Loffer
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So, Granlund faces a formidable task in WJC. People expect him to "dominate", win the scoring race (at least top3) and lead Finland to medals, preferrably gold. Consider it done! Piece of cake! Peanuts!
To be serious, as mentioned there will be many equal or "better" (higher drafts/rankings) prospects in other teams - and yet Granlund should somehow - dominate. C'mon, it isn't fair to expect anything extraordinary from him alone. Russia, Sweden, Canada and USA should have better teams and it's a small rink they are playing. Poor Granlund, if he fails to live up to these expectations. What a disappointment!
Edit: And Granlund WAS a "disappointment" in WJC two years ago IIRC. Niederreiter was better...lol. And that was in NA too IIRC. This looks scary.
So, Granlund faces a formidable task in WJC. People expect him to "dominate", win the scoring race (at least top3) and lead Finland to medals, preferrably gold. Consider it done! Piece of cake! Peanuts!
To be serious, as mentioned there will be many equal or "better" (higher drafts/rankings) prospects in other teams - and yet Granlund should somehow - dominate. C'mon, it isn't fair to expect anything extraordinary from him alone. Russia, Sweden, Canada and USA should have better teams and it's a small rink they are playing. Poor Granlund, if he fails to live up to these expectations. What a disappointment!
Edit: And Granlund WAS a "disappointment" in WJC two years ago IIRC. Niederreiter was better...lol. And that was in NA too IIRC. This looks scary.
Look at Granlund now and compare him to a player 2 year ago. Now he is much faster, stronger and even smarter. His wrister have developed alot since those days. I agree with you tho, i don't expect finland to win anything. 1 Granlund can't do **** when there is team full of top prospects. I actualy think that Granlund is better at WC against men than WJC against juniors. But disagree with you that it's crazy to think him as top 3 scorer of the tournament. I actualy think that he could be #1 very well but in the otherhand i think that even Pulkkinen could pot up more points than Granlund.
Loffer
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Exactly what I think. Granlund will feel much more home in WC (which is "at home", to be sure...) feeding immonen.
Granlund has already shown he is very capable in tournaments harder than the WJC.. I don't personally care even if he fails at that tournament. Its just a kids tournament with next to nothing at stake..
Also Niederraiter is an Islanders prospect so he is bound to disappoint anyway
Loffer
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To be fair, that's true. Although he had it BEFORE the tournament, not during it. But it affected his game.
It's true that some of these expecttions aren't fair. Even with Granlund we are miles behind USA and Canada and more moderately behind Sweden and Russia. He can't do it alone and a medal means that Finnish players need to step it up and the whole team to gel together.
"domination" is actually the wrong word imo, domination would mean that someone is totally overpowering, that one can do what he wishes on the ice. Crosby or Malkin or St. Louis would "dominate" if they played in this tournament, not necessarily any of the players eligible for the tournament.
I think what people mostly mean by domination is that there is a player that clearly stands out head and shoulders above the rest and is always doing things that help the team and things that are dangerous to the opposing team.
The fact is, that Granlund is arguably the best player in the tournament, and there are certain things that are expected from a player of his stature. Sure, he can't do everything he wants on the ice, but one thing that is expected of him is that he's dangerous whenever he's on the ice, especially when he has the puck. He's expected to be the best offensive player on the team (he already is on the men's team) and since he's by many the best player, he's also expected to be one of the strongest contenders for the scoring race. That's just how it goes.
Loffer
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Well said. Domination is a wrong expression here. Granlund would dominate in A juniors Sm- .
Well, IIRC he said in one interview that his mind is occasionaly flowing around the game and that's why he often do not hear his team mates or the opposite team's agitators.
Granlund was a key contributor at Mans World Championship last year. So in theory the junior World Championship is not really the competition for him. He has nothing to prove at this level.
What are people gonna say if he gets 10 points + he just played against boys. if gets less points people say he sucks.
Sorry in all truth it does not matter. Its nice to see top prospects lining up against each other, int junior play matters to determine their draft status not how ready or not a kid is for the NHL.
He needs to prove himself against man that is in the Finish league and at the man's WC
What are people gonna say if he gets 10 points + he just played against boys. if gets less points people say he sucks.
Sorry in all truth it does not matter. Its nice to see top prospects lining up against each other, int junior play matters to determine their draft status not how ready or not a kid is for the NHL.
He needs to prove himself against man that is in the Finish league and at the man's WC
He has already done it. Granlund is one of the best players if not the best (not prospects, players) in entire europe. He has 1 step to go and it is NHL. He have always suprised me when he enters to tougher competition.
The World Juniors will have absolutely no bearing on the future of Granlund. He looks like the best player eligible for the event, but it doesn't really matter.
I think Finland have a pretty good team this year. They should have beaten Russia last year, and Finland will almost certainly have a stronger team this year. Of course Russia has more firepower too but has shortcomings on the backend, US/Canada are typically strong and Sweden has a very deep roster but perhaps relies too hravily on younger guys for the elite production. Basically, Finland on paper is slightly weaker than the Big 4, but can medal if they find the right chemistry and play well together.
I'd very much like to see Kuznetsov vs Granlund showdown. Two best players in the event this year IMO.
I think Finland have a pretty good team this year. They should have beaten Russia last year, and Finland will almost certainly have a stronger team this year. Of course Russia has more firepower too but has shortcomings on the backend, US/Canada are typically strong and Sweden has a very deep roster but perhaps relies too hravily on younger guys for the elite production. Basically, Finland on paper is slightly weaker than the Big 4, but can medal if they find the right chemistry and play well together.
I'd very much like to see Kuznetsov vs Granlund showdown. Two best players in the event this year IMO.
It will be very hard to compare the two, since they are very different players.
Kuznetsov relies on getting the puck with speed and using his size, hands and shot. His combination of speed and hands will makes it possible for him to go past defenders and create scoring chances that way. Often it may look like Kuznetsov is more flashy, because of his speed+stickhandling combo.
Granlund on the other hand relies on getting the puck deep, where he will play his possession play, where he can stickhandle in traffic, tie defensemen to him and thus get the puck to scoring wingers who will have space to score. Granlund very rarely uses his hands to go PAST defenders, but more like navigate in hard traffic and then give a smart pass to scoring areas.
Mikael Granlund is now 1 in points in FEL. 19gp 6g 17a and a +6. Pretty good for a guy whoose team is in 8th spot in a 14 teams league... 
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