Olympics: Your Country's 2022 Roster? (Assuming NHL participation)

[Erikfromfin]

Gold Medal

Teuvo Teräväinen - Sebastian Aho - Mikko Rantanen
Patrik Laine - Aleksander Barkov - Joonas Donskoi
Mikael Granlund - Roope Hintz - Kasperi Kapanen
Teemu Hartikainen - Anton Lundell - Joel Armia
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Jesse Puljujärvi

Esa Lindell - Miro Heiskanen
Mikko Lehtonen - Rasmus Ristolainen
Juuso Välimäki - Sami Vatanen
Urho Vaakanainen - Jani Hakanpää

Tuukka Rask
Joonas Korpisalo
Juuse Saros

Backup Team

Janne Kuokkanen - Sakari Manninen - Kaapo Kakko
Artturi Lehkonen - Erik Haula - Eeli Tolvanen
Joel Kiviranta - Eetu Luostarinen - Markus Granlund
Juho Lammikko - Valtteri Filppula - Leo Komarov
Jori Lehterä
Kristian Vesalainen

Markus Nutivaara - Henri Jokiharju
Olli Määttä - Juuso Hietanen
Olli Juolevi - Oliwer Kaski
Niko Mikkola - Juuso Riikola

Antti Raanta
Kaapo Kähkönen
Kevin Lankinen

 

[smitty10]

I'll try Switzerland:

Fiala-Hischier-Meier
Kurashev-Suter-Niederreiter
Andrighetto-Hoffman-Baertschi
Ambuhl-Haas-Malgin
Corvi

Josi-Kukan
Sigenthaler-Weber
Sbisa-Diaz
Mueller

Genoni
Berra
Senn

 

[SENSational]

Really hope we see a Tkachuk line, that would be absolute hell to play against.

 

[BlizzardSloth]

I'll try Switzerland:

Fiala-Hischier-Meier
Kurashev-Suter-Niederreiter
Andrighetto-Hoffman-Baertschi
Ambuhl-Haas-Malgin
Corvi

Josi-Kukan
Sigenthaler-Weber
Sbisa-Diaz
Mueller

Genoni
Berra
Senn

Not bad, like it a lot. Would swap Sbisa for J.J. Moser and replace Weber with Tim Berni in Defense. Also maybe replace Ambühl with Denis Hollenstein. Ludovic Waeber could be considered for a goalie spot as well.

 

[jfc64]

Bolded very likely don't make it.

Why? Because they are not STAR WARS characters yet?

 

[Advanced stats]

Why? Because they are not STAR WARS characters yet?

?? Because they aren't top 25 playerw born in canada?

 

[Eye of Ra]

Really hope we see a Tkachuk line, that would be absolute hell to play against.

who would you prefer to center them? Larkin perhaps?

 

[Lambo]

New edition

Teuvo Teräväinen - Sebastian Aho - Mikko Rantanen
Patrik Laine - Aleksander Barkov - Jesse Puljujärvi
Mikael Granlund - Roope Hintz - Kaapo Kakko
Artturi Lehkonen - Anton Lundell - Joel Armia
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Joonas Donskoi

Esa Lindell - Miro Heiskanen
Mikko Lehtonen - Rasmus Ristolainen
Juuso Välimäki - Sami Vatanen
Urho Vaakanainen - Jani Hakanpää

Tuukka Rask
Joonas Korpisalo
Kevin Lankinen

Backup team

Markus Granlund - Sakari Manninen - Teemu Hartikainen
Joel Kiviranta - Eetu Luostarinen - Kasperi Kapanen
Erik Haula - Arttu Ruotsalainen - Eeli Tolvanen
Leo Komarov - Juho Lammikko - Kristian Vesalainen
Valtteri Filppula
Julius Nättinen

Markus Nutivaara - Henri Jokiharju
Olli Juolevi - Juuso Hietanen
Olli Määttä - Ville Heinola
Niko Mikkola - Juuso Riikola

Kaapo Kähkönen
Juuse Saros
Antti Raanta

Kapanen must in first team. Pulju and Kakko are weak points.

 

[Lartsaman]

I will try Latvia. If someone knows latvian hockey better, feel free to correct me! Of course they need to qualify first but Im pretty confident they will and play with Finland in group C.

Rudolfs Balcers - Teddy Blugers - Miks Indrasis
Ronalds Kenins - Rodrigos Abols - Roberts Bukarts
Lauris Darzins - Zemgus Girgensons - Kaspars Daugavins
Rihards Bukarts - Maris Bicevskis - Haralds Egle
Deniss Smirnovs, Martins Karsums

Oskars Cibulskis - Ralfs Freibergs
Kristofers Bindulis - Oskars Bartulis
Krisjanis Rubins - Janis Jaks
Uvis Balinskis - Kristaps Zile

Elvis Merzlikins - Janis Kalnins - Matiss Kivlenieks

 

[JabbaJabba]

Kapanen must in first team. Pulju and Kakko are weak points.

It's surprising how often I see Kapanen left out of the team. After wingers like Rantanen, Teräväinen and Laine, I think Kapanen is a clear choice for the team along with Granlund and Armia. Kapanen brings much needed speed on the lineup, which might be the overall weakness of team Finland.

 

[Boldovoi]

I will try to write the optimal composition of the Belarus national team in my opinion. The Kostitsyn brothers have long ceased to play hockey, the older brother is most likely to be seen in the national team, but the younger has long been famous for his actions outside the ice. Today, I see a team like this, if everyone is healthy, and there are no questions about citizenship, a couple of players from this list have Russian citizenship.

Yegor Sharangovich (NJ NHL) - Vladislav Kodola (HC Severstal KHL) - Shane Prince (Dynamo Minsk KHL)
Andrei Kostitsyn (HC Pardubice CZ) - Alexei Protas (Dynamo Minsk KHL. WSH Prosp.) - Geoff Platt (Salavat KHL)
Kirill Petkov (HC Sochi KHL)- Andrei Belevich (HC Torpedo KHL)- Francis Pare (Dynamo Minsk KHL)
Maxim Sushko (Phi NHL) - Andrei Stas (Avangard KHL) - Artem Demkov (Dynamo Minsk KHL)
Ilya Usov (Dynamo Minsk KHL) , Dmitri Kolgotin (HC Sochi KHL)

Vladislav Kolyachonok (Dynamo Minsk KHL. FLA Prosp.) - Nick Bailen (HC Traktor KHL)
Kristian Khenkel (AK Bars KHL) - Yevgeni Lisovets (HC Salavat KHL)
Stepan Falkovsky (Dynamo Minsk KHL) - Vladislav Yeremenko (Dynamo Minsk KHL. NSH Prosp.)
Ilya Solovyov (Dynamo Minsk KHL. CGY Prosp.) - Dmitri Znakharenko (Dynamo Minsk KHL)

Dany Taylor (Dynamo Minsk KHL ) Alexei Kolosov (Dynamo Minsk KHL) Ivan Kulbakov (HC Sochi KHL)

 

[IceHockeyDude]

Rantanen-Barkov-Granlund
Laine-Aho-Teräväinen
Kapanen-Hintz-Kakko
Armia-Kotkaniemi-Puljujärvi
Haula

Heiskanen-Lindell
Ristolainen-Välimäki
Vatanen-Määttä
Hakanpää

Rask
Lankinen
Kähkönen

 

[FiLe]

Regarding Finland: I'm not going to build a lineup, simply because I feel it's too volatile a thing right now. I just want to comment on the incredibly good spot we appear to be right now.

Of course, there are some no-brainer names who will be there no matter what when healthy. Out of forwards, I'd list Barkov, Aho, Laine, Rantanen, Teräväinen, Granlund and Hintz into this category. I'm 99,99% certain Kapanen and Armia will be there too. They bring a little something else than those aforementioned names, but they're not exactly "mere" bottom-six scrubs either.

Then we get to the extra tasty bit - we have a good number of young forwards playing their breakthrough seasons, most notably Kakko, Puljujärvi and Tolvanen. If they stay on the trajectory they're on now, they could all be considered no-brainer picks by the end of the year - but there may simply be no room for them all. Especially since we also have guys like Haula, Kotkaniemi, Lehkonen, Kiviranta and Donskoi available, none of whom would be unjustified picks. And there's even more - watch out for guys like Luostarinen and Kuokkanen, who I'd say are flying a bit under the radar now, but could be strong contenders by Christmas, especially when those last spots are being filled.

The same story continues with defense. We have three truly elite-class NHL d-men - Heiskanen, Lindell, and Ristolainen, who are the no-brainer picks. (I've heard some hubbub about Risto not being such a surefire pick due to his numerous WHC declinations, but the guy was in the 2016 World Cup team, meaning he won't say no to a best-on-best invite.) I also believe Vatanen is close, because he brings some veteran presence (at ripe 30 years of age). And behind those four, we've never had this many quality candidates: Jokiharju, Lehtonen, Määttä, Nutivaara, Hakanpää, Välimäki. And given that there's plenty of hockey to be played between now and when the team is picked, Juolevi, Vaakanainen and Heinola can't be outed from the speculations either. So come Christmas, we could have enough reliable NHL regulars to fill two defense units - and a piece to spare.

Finally, goalies. If you'd asked me a year ago, I'd have said that our likely playing tandem is Rask and Korpisalo, with Saros in reserve. But now, Lankinen and Kähkönen are making cases for themselves to be part of that tandem. In fact, Lankinen's case has been so strong that I have him drawn up as the starter in my now-cast. His 2019 WHC performance obviously isn't doing him any disfavors either.

So, I'll wait for a few months more before I start drawing lineups, but, yeah, I can already say that Finland's never been in a spot as delicious as this.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Regarding Finland: I'm not going to build a lineup, simply because I feel it's too volatile a thing right now. I just want to comment on the incredibly good spot we appear to be right now.

Of course, there are some no-brainer names who will be there no matter what when healthy. Out of forwards, I'd list Barkov, Aho, Laine, Rantanen, Teräväinen, Granlund and Hintz into this category. I'm 99,99% certain Kapanen and Armia will be there too. They bring a little something else than those aforementioned names, but they're not exactly "mere" bottom-six scrubs either.

Then we get to the extra tasty bit - we have a good number of young forwards playing their breakthrough seasons, most notably Kakko, Puljujärvi and Tolvanen. If they stay on the trajectory they're on now, they could all be considered no-brainer picks by the end of the year - but there may simply be no room for them all. Especially since we also have guys like Haula, Kotkaniemi, Lehkonen, Kiviranta and Donskoi available, none of whom would be unjustified picks. And there's even more - watch out for guys like Luostarinen and Kuokkanen, who I'd say are flying a bit under the radar now, but could be strong contenders by Christmas, especially when those last spots are being filled.

The same story continues with defense. We have three truly elite-class NHL d-men - Heiskanen, Lindell, and Ristolainen, who are the no-brainer picks. (I've heard some hubbub about Risto not being such a surefire pick due to his numerous WHC declinations, but the guy was in the 2016 World Cup team, meaning he won't say no to a best-on-best invite.) I also believe Vatanen is close, because he brings some veteran presence (at ripe 30 years of age). And behind those four, we've never had this many quality candidates: Jokiharju, Lehtonen, Määttä, Nutivaara, Hakanpää, Välimäki. And given that there's plenty of hockey to be played between now and when the team is picked, Juolevi, Vaakanainen and Heinola can't be outed from the speculations either. So come Christmas, we could have enough reliable NHL regulars to fill two defense units - and a piece to spare.

Finally, goalies. If you'd asked me a year ago, I'd have said that our likely playing tandem is Rask and Korpisalo, with Saros in reserve. But now, Lankinen and Kähkönen are making cases for themselves to be part of that tandem. In fact, Lankinen's case has been so strong that I have him drawn up as the starter in my now-cast. His 2019 WHC performance obviously isn't doing him any disfavors either.

So, I'll wait for a few months more before I start drawing lineups, but, yeah, I can already say that Finland's never been in a spot as delicious as this.

Extremely good points and this truly is a golden age of Finnish players. Not only are there many players but there are a lot of great players in the NHL to choose from. Guy like Kakko could be out of the team just 'cos there are other options that make more sense for a different role. It is really incredible.

Only problem I see is the center depth. Barkov, Aho and Hintz are great but after them it's not so impressive. Kotkaniemi is progressing and then there's Haula who is fine. Granlund has played at center, but he's better as a winger. Maybe Luostarinen or Lammikko will make it? I would really like some experienced defensive minded player on the team, although Barkov can play that role as well. I don't think Lundell will be ready by the Olympics. Hopefully the centers will be healthy next year and/or someone takes a big step in development.

 

[FiLe]

Only problem I see is the center depth. Barkov, Aho and Hintz are great but after them it's not so impressive. Kotkaniemi is progressing and then there's Haula who is fine. Granlund has played at center, but he's better as a winger. Maybe Luostarinen or Lammikko will make it? I would really like some experienced defensive minded player on the team, although Barkov can play that role as well. I don't think Lundell will be ready by the Olympics. Hopefully the centers will be healthy next year and/or someone takes a big step in development.

While it's true that there isn't as much room for different combinations down the middle as there are in the other departments, it still feels a bit of an artificial problem. Usually, the (minimum) amount of centres in any squad is five - four for the regular lineup and one substitute. My present foursome would be Barkov-Aho-Hintz-Haula, with Kotkaniemi as the spare. But I'm keeping my eye especially on Luostarinen, because he could well be someone who ousts either Haula or Kotkaniemi - and once again, a player of that caliber not making the cut would be unprecedented for us. While having six olympic grade centers isn't phenomenal depth, it should still be more than enough without some serious injury troubles.

But there's still time for that depth to expand. Lammikko could indeed be a regular, providing more depth for the bottom-six. I also agree that it might be too soon for Lundell. In order for him to make it, he first needs to make the WHC roster this spring (likely), be an impact player there (not as likely, but not a long shot either), then make it to the Panthers lineup out of the gates (not so likely but not unthinkable), and then establish himself as an impact player in the league in mere three months (which he could do, but I wouldn't hold my breath). One guy I didn't mention, but whom I'd rather have my eye on right now is Kupari. It's obviously way too early to say how he will turn up, but he has more time to establish himself than Lundell does.

But once more, this is still a bit of an artificial problem. Our lineup regulars should be found from the sixsome of Barkov, Aho, Hintz, Haula, Kotkaniemi and Luostarinen, and any other name ought to be brought up only as an injury replacement - meaning we'd need three out of those six sidelined before those bubble options would even see any considerable TOI.

 

[MMANumminen]

Team Finland

Rantanen-Barkov-Laine
Teräväinen-Aho-Hintz
Donskoi-Granlund-Kapanen
Armia-Kotkaniemi-Puljujärvi
Tolvanen

Heiskanen-Lindell
Ristolainen-Hakanpää
Lehtonen-Välimäki
Vatanen

Rask
Rinne
Lankinen

 

[petteri33]

Team Finland as for now


Laine - Barkov - Rantanen
Teravainen - Aho - Kakko
Donskoi - Hintz - Granlund
Kapanen - Kotkaniemi - Armia
+ Lekhonen
R Kuokkanen

Lindell - Ristolainen
Valimaki - Heiskanen
Lehtonen - Hakanpaa
+ Nutivaara
R Jokiharju

Rask
Lankinen
Saros

 

[petteri33]

And my Team Sweden

Forsberg - Pettersson - E.Lindholm
Landeskog - Backstrom - Nylander
Burakovsky - Zibanejad - Hornqvist
Eriksson Ek - W.Karlsson - Olofsson
+ A.Kempe
R Wennberg

Hedman - Brodin
H.Lindholm - Klingberg
Ekman-Larsson - Ekholm
+ Andersson
R Dahlin

Markstrom
Ullmark
Lehner

 

[SantosHalper]

Update:
Mikko Rantanen - Alexander Barkov(A) - Joonas Donskoi
Teuvo Teräväinen - Sebastian Aho(C) - Patrik Laine
Mikael Granlund(A) - Roope Hintz - Kasperi Kapanen
Erik Haula - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Joel Armia
Jesse Puljujärvi, Kaapo Kakko

Miro Heiskanen - Rasmus Ristolainen
Esa Lindell - Henri Jokiharju
Juuso Välimäki - Mikko Lehtonen
Niko Mikkola - Jani Hakanpää

Tuuka Rask
Kevin Lankinen
Joonas Korpisalo

 

[Eye of Ra]

Janne Kuokkanen, Eeli Tolvanen, Joel Kiviranta and Eetu Luostarinen are 4 players from Finland who is flying under the rader.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Janne Kuokkanen, Eeli Tolvanen, Joel Kiviranta and Eetu Luostarinen are 4 players from Finland who is flying under the rader.

Those guys are definitely in the hierarchy right after the top guys and some have had Kiviranta on the 4th line in their lineups already. I think it's very likely that couple of them make the roster because it is unlikely that everyone above them is healthy. That's just how it goes.

 

[LOFIN]

Update:
Mikko Rantanen - Alexander Barkov(A) - Joonas Donskoi
Teuvo Teräväinen - Sebastian Aho(C) - Patrik Laine
Mikael Granlund(A) - Roope Hintz - Kasperi Kapanen
Erik Haula - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Joel Armia
Jesse Puljujärvi, Kaapo Kakko

Miro Heiskanen - Rasmus Ristolainen
Esa Lindell - Henri Jokiharju
Juuso Välimäki - Mikko Lehtonen
Niko Mikkola - Jani Hakanpää

Tuuka Rask
Kevin Lankinen
Joonas Korpisalo

Any particular reason you give the C for Aho? I mean I wouldn't even give him an A. He has been the alternate captain once for U20 and once in WHC. Outside of that, he has zero captain duties. On the other hand we have Barkov who's on his 3rd year of captaincy for Florida, Granlund who has been the captain of both WHC team and U20 and is one of the most experienced guys in the line up, and Rantanen who has served as the captain of u20 team, alternate for WHC squad and is currently A for the Avs and held the A with TPS as well.

Not saying Aho can't be leader, he certainly is one when it comes to showing the example on ice, but he has no merits to go past Barkov, Granlund or even Rantanen in my oppinion.

 

[Czechboy]

And my Team Sweden

Forsberg - Pettersson - E.Lindholm
Landeskog - Backstrom - Nylander
Burakovsky - Zibanejad - Hornqvist
Eriksson Ek - W.Karlsson - Olofsson
+ A.Kempe
R Wennberg

Hedman - Brodin
H.Lindholm - Klingberg
Ekman-Larsson - Ekholm
+ Andersson
R Dahlin

Markstrom
Ullmark
Lehner

Hedman with that supporting cast is so good!

Great Centre depth.

Great Goalies.

 

[SantosHalper]

Any particular reason you give the C for Aho? I mean I wouldn't even give him an A. He has been the alternate captain once for U20 and once in WHC. Outside of that, he has zero captain duties. On the other hand we have Barkov who's on his 3rd year of captaincy for Florida, Granlund who has been the captain of both WHC team and U20 and is one of the most experienced guys in the line up, and Rantanen who has served as the captain of u20 team, alternate for WHC squad and is currently A for the Avs and held the A with TPS as well.

Not saying Aho can't be leader, he certainly is one when it comes to showing the example on ice, but he has no merits to go past Barkov, Granlund or even Rantanen in my oppinion.

I think he's a great leader, he doesn't freeze in tight spot and he leads by example. Aho is smart, always two steps ahead everyone else. Second reason is longevity, i see Aho as a long term captain for national team like Saku Koivu.

But after all i don't really care who's the captain gonna be, Aho just looks and sounds like another Saku Koivu.

 

[IceHockeyDude]

Rantanen-Barkov-Hintz
Laine-Aho-Teräväinen
Kapanen-Granlund-Tolvanen
Donskoi-Kotkaniemi-Puljujärvi
Kuokkanen

Heiskanen-Lindell
Ristolainen-Välimäki
Vatanen-Hakanpää
Jokiharju

Kähkönen
Lankinen
Rask

Updated