RorschachWJK
Registered User
- Dec 28, 2004
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Realistically... Savinainen, Raanta, they're in. Nieminen, Koskiranta, maybe. Armia... is the one we all would like, but know it's not gonna happen.Finals ended. Hoping to see armia,savinainen,koskiranta,nieminen and raanta with the national team now.
And Mäntylä paired up with Jyri Marttinen. He was just a beast during these playoffs.Nieminen-Koskiranta-Savinainen is fourth line what I like to see in WC.
Tuukka Mäntylä and Raanta should be in team too.
I know it's probably still quite far from the final lineup, but it is still kinda bizarre-looking one. It's practically four entirely similar lines: Wingers are potential top-six (or top-nine) players, all the centres are 4th-line guys.Pesonen-Hytönen-Aaltonen
Hagman-Wirtanen-Pihlström
Salminen-Viitaluoma-Jormakka
Sallinen-Lahti-Haataja
I know it's probably still quite far from the final lineup, but it is still kinda bizarre-looking one. It's practically four entirely similar lines: Wingers are potential top-six (or top-nine) players, all the centres are 4th-line guys.
One option could be to add Tuukka Mäntylä, who was stellar over the finals. Then Jalonen could afford to cut both Kousa and Lepistö. But if one stays, it has to Lepistö. He at least runs hot and cold, Kousa was just overall useless.I'd like to cut at least Kousa and Lepistö (and Laakso based on his earlier performances), but unfortunately one of these so-called defensemen will have to stay.
Viitaluoma: excellent faceoff stats, solid two-way game. But he isn't really much of a playmaker, that much appears evident. I think Salminen complements him somewhat, but the other side could use someone with a bit of skill. Can't just figure for the life of me who that could be. Armia potentially, but he has nothing he could use to prove he can also do it in reality. Picking him would be something of a hail mary, and Jalonen doesn't do those. Not that many other coaches do either, though.The centers were for the most part invisible and rather unable to lead offensive efforts. I don't understand how in the world Viitaluoma was chosen as best player of the game. He was awful in the first two periods and only a little better in the third. The only positive was that he was good in the faceoffs.
It was curious watching the 2-1 goal by Pesonen. Aaltonen robs the puck and feeds him. Hytönen, who was obviously stunting Kontiola, was nowhere to be seen.Aside from Kontiola's line, I think the wingers will have to take charge of the offense. Players like Salminen and Aaltonen just may have the ability to do that. Good effort from Hagman tonight as well, but that guy seriously can't buy a damn goal.
Melart should get another shot, simply because he was really good against previous opposition. But those were not teams like the Czech Rep, so it might simply be that he isn't quite there to face the top opposition yet.Melart was bad tonight and captain Kukkonen was once again doing what he seems to do on a regular basis- watching the other team score from a front row seat. Melart needs another chance because we need someone like him when we play the big, physical teams, but I'm going to be at my wit's end if Melart, Lepistö, Kousa and Laakso all turn out to be more or less equally awful. We're not likely to get any reinforcements to the defense, so two of those four will have to stay regardless of their performance.
Solid calls. Savinainen was called as a no-brainer for a while. Koskiranta is really no solution to the center issue, but at least adds more depth. Raanta - deserved it despite no earlier NT experience.Apparently Raanta, Savinainen, Mäntylä and Koskiranta are joining the team. So apparently Jalonen has no love for Ville Nieminen.
Armia, Pulkkinen & Teräväinen didn't even get a chance to show what they've got. This must be the most uninteresting Team Finland in a long time. Oh well, fortunately Russia and Canada are bringing their big guns - as always.
Juha Hiitelä is making a shameless educated guess. If he's right, he can use it to gain some prestige. If he's wrong and one or two will show up, nobody will remind him of it.According to Urheilusanomat, there will be no reinforcements from the NHL. Nobody's coming. Not even Rinne.
Ortio looks exactly like someone's who's mostly played in teams that have had him face a lot of rubber - when the shots just keep coming and coming, he's stellar. But if there's a single lull in the game, it may lead to a mental lapse.I'm very impressed by Ortio's development. He was a little shaky earlier this season with the NT, but lately he's been very stellar. Lots of positive things to say about him. Too bad Calgary doesn't seem to have much interest in him (it's rumored that he's saying with HIFK next season because they don't even have a spot for him in the AHL).
That's why he currently isn't vying for top-six but for a lower-line energy player role. Even less so if Korpikoski shows up.Hagman's still underwhelming. He should have no business in the top 6. He's had plenty of chances to get going during camp, but no.
Same thing I've been wondering. Oh well, at least one line should be able to operate normally with Kontiola in. But that's not going to turn the whole squad around.What's worrying to me is that it's the finishers (Aaltonen, Salminen) who are now taking the spots of the playmakers. Who's going to finish?
I think Lepistö improved a little. Maybe just enough to punch himself a ticket.Kousa, Laakso and Lepistö were still the worst defenders overall.
Yeah, yeah. Once again... the squad is bound to be full of newcomers, some of them even relatively young.This will be the first time in about 30 years that I am seriously considering not watching the WC at all. There's nothing interesting in this weak team.
theahl.comDoes anyone know how Anaheim's AHL farm team is doing incase Ana will lose to Det? Did they make into AHL playoffs?