Team Finland (Official roster)

[mattihp]

I much rather see Filppula than Pirnes in this tournament...Pirnes is soooo overrated.

He works hard and can produce in key moments. But one of Hahl/Pirnes should've been enough.

 

[Art Vandelay]

How does the finnish squad look like now?
Same as the first post in this thread or any changes?

 

[RorschachWJK]

How does the finnish squad look like now?
Same as the first post in this thread or any changes?

Janne Niinimaa just announced that he is not going to play in the WC. Yet another refusal...

 

[Habsfan 32]

Janne Niinimaa just announced that he is not going to play in the WC. Yet another refusal...

Ouch! that's not good news if your a Finnish fan.

 

[Dominus]

So, Janne Niinimaa is going to knee surgery and also Ville Nieminen is out, because he hurt his knee in exhibition game against Switzerland.

I thought I'd make a summary of the players who are now definitely out of the calculations:
Saku Koivu (injuries?)
Jere Lehtinen (injury / back?)
Teemu Selänne (injury / knee)
Teppo Numminen (hasn't played this season)
Sami Salo (personal reasons)
Toni Lydman (personal reasons, child birth)
Aki Berg (personal reasons)
Ville Nieminen (injury / knee)
Janne Niinimaa (injury / knee)
Miikka Kiprusoff (personal reasons, child birth?)
Sami Kapanen (injuries?)
Jussi Markkanen (?)
Tuomo Ruutu (injury / knee)
Mikko Koivu (AHL playoffs)
Kari Lehtonen (AHL playoffs)

Did I forget somebody?

Possible/probable additions to the team:
Niklas Bäckström, g

Kimmo Timonen, d
Tom Koivisto, d
Ossi Väänänen, d
A-J Niemi, d
Sami Lepistö, d
Lasse Kukkonen, d
Ilkka Mikkola, d

Olli Jokinen, f
Ville Peltonen, f
Jussi Jokinen, f
Valtteri Filppula, f
Jari Viuhkola, f
Niklas Hagman, f
Tomi Kallio, f
Tony Salmelainen, f

Nothing has been announced yet, but I hope that most of these players are invited and won't refuse because of injuries or personal reasons. There have been some talks that some of the NHL players have refused because...
a) they don't like the way the national team is being led at the moment or,
b) they are lazy sons of *****es.
Personally I think neither is correct. Every key player has legitimate reasons for their refusals; injuries, child birth or other family issues. Some guys (at least Koivu, Selänne, Lehtinen) already played injured in the World Cup. What more do we want from them? Let them heal for a change.

While I think some of the players don't like the way Finnish Ice-hockey Association is being led, I doubt that it could be the real reason for any refusal. Chairman Kalervo Kummola sometimes acts likes a moody child though. Lately he threatened that the refused players will not be in the Olympic team either. That's just BS. If Koivu, Selänne, Lehtinen, Salo, Numminen etc. are healthy and want to play in that team, they will play in that team and Kummola will just meekly shut his piehole.

Even with all the injuries and refusals I'm still quite optimistic with this team, but we can't have many more setbacks. I'd like to see some young stars making their international breaktrough in this tournament, and now they have excellent chances to get responsibility and make their mark.

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

Looks like this'll be Westerlunds only world championships.
Jortikka still refuses to say anything about going to TPS, maybe he has a backdoor to take over the national team if Westerlund does poorly and gets the sack?

 

[mattihp]

Ouch! that's not good news if your a Finnish fan.

Yes it is. I see satan answered my call

 

[Jussi]

He works hard and can produce in key moments.

Pirnes can produce in key moments? When has this happened, in the Bizarro world?

 

[mattihp]

Pirnes can produce in key moments? When has this happened, in the Bizarro world?

He won Tappara a championship not many seasons ago

 

[Hassan]

Finnish dream roster at the moment

Considering injuries, refusals and the team in the trainig camp the best possible team could be roughly the following:

Timonen Kimmo D
Nummelin Petteri D
Karalahti Jere D
Söderholm Toni D
Koivisto Tom D
Mäntylä Tuukka D
Niemi Antti-Jussi D
In case some of the defencemen above will not be chosen or are hindered, Ossi Väänänen, Lasse Kukkonen, Pasi Puistola or Jyrki Välivaara would be the ones to stand in. I could even choose Väänänen instead of Mäntylä. Some would also choose Sami Lepistö but I don't think he's skilled enough yet, perhaps next year.

Jokinen Olli C
Pirjetä Lasse C
Kapanen Niko C
Immonen Jarkko C
Jokinen Jussi C/RW
Kallio Tomi LW (RW)
Peltonen Ville LW (RW)
Hagman Niklas LW
Pärssinen Timo LW
Rita Jani LW
Eloranta Mikko LW/RW
Hentunen Jukka RW
Hyönen Hannes RW
Olli Jokinen, Lasse Pirjetä and Niko Kapanen will definitely be in. The fouth center is likely to be Jarkko Immonen or Jussi Jokinen. Although I consider J.Jokinen better of these two, I'd rather put Immonen in the middle, because J.Jokinen is very versatile player and this is why he could be right wing. What's more, Finland is short of actual right wings, which doesn't anyhow matter because we have a tough all-around player Mikko Eloranta and Ville Peltonen has also played in right. Tomi Kallio will also be able to play on both sides. The Fourth center could also be Jari Viuhkola or Esa Pirnes, but I think Immonen should do the job. Valtteri Filppula could be an alternative, but his time is yet to come. I would drop Riku Hahl off the team, being immensely overrated.

Goalie situation is a bit trickier question. Since there are many skilled Finnish goalies, it is hard to choose the best ones to WCH.
Miikka Kiprusoff and Kari Lehtonen won't be joining the team.
Pasi Nurminen has mostly been good but his season has been a bit indented and he's had some blunders in his private life, which might affect his game.
Mika Noronen played a mediocre season in HPK in Finland and was a bit of a disappointment.
Vesa Toskala's season wasn't long. he played nine games in Ilves at the end of the season but was almost phenomenal. But the question is, are those nine games enough to give the sufficient routine for Toskala.
Jussi Markkanen played the whole season in Russia in Lada Togliatti, playing 64 out of Lada's 70 matches. In the regular season he had the second-best goals-against-average (1,2) in the league and his save percentage wasa 94,04, which was also the second-best, so Markkanen would be a great choice.
Another reliable goalie to be chosen could be Niklas Bäckström, who has already announced that he would be glad to join the team. Bäckström played the whole season in the Finnish champion Oulun Kärpät and played 47/56 of the team's matches in the regular season and all the 12 games in the play-offs. In play-offs, especially in the final series, Bäckström was absolutely in flames and one of his team's key players.
Fredrik Norrena and Teemu Lassila who have been in the training camp are great goalies but all of the goalies above would beat the any time.
To sum it up, I'd say that the three goalies to play in WCH are:
Markkanen Jussi
Bäckström Niklas
Pasi Nurminen (or Vesa Toskala)

 

[Dominus]

Söderholm Toni D

Some would also choose Sami Lepistö but I don't think he's skilled enough yet, perhaps next year.

I mostly agree with you when it comes to defence, but why would you want to see Söderholm in the team? His season wasn't same kind of success as his last one and in the games I saw he always seemed a bit shaky. I guess he could have a shot if he performs exceptionally well in the exhibition games, but right now I can think of at least half a dozen players I'd rather see wearing our jersey in the Championships. If Söde will be in the final team, I think it proves that making contract to Switzerland automatically secures a spot in the national team.

I'd also take Lepistö in, because this would be great chance to give him a little bit of valuable international experience as 7th d-man. Right now I think he's just as good as Söderholm, plus he has much higher potential and in my opinion team needs hungry youngsters like Lepistö, J. Jokinen, Immonen and Filppula. We're going to be underdogs anyway, so it's not like we're going to lose that much by giving them a chance to prove themselves.

Olli Jokinen, Lasse Pirjetä and Niko Kapanen will definitely be in.
...
I would drop Riku Hahl off the team, being immensely overrated.

Pirjetä in for sure? In my books he's out of the team for sure. You don't want us to have a grindline of Ruutu-Hahl-Eloranta, for example? In my opinion these guys are immensely underrated. This kinda line could be very valuable against the better opponents and could be used to shut down the likes of Jagr, Thornton etc.

To sum it up, I'd say that the three goalies to play in WCH are:
Markkanen Jussi
Bäckström Niklas
Pasi Nurminen (or Vesa Toskala)

I thought Markkanen and Nurminen had already refused, but if that's not the case, I'd gladly take Markkanen to be the number one goalie. Then it's a tough contest between Norrena and Bäckström. I'm sure both of them can do the job. Actually, whatever happens I'm quite confident with our goalies. We have pretty good depth on this department.

 

[mikkoz]

Team Finland at the moment

http://www.jatkoaika.com/maajoukkue.php?sivu=uutiset&id=4203

Goalies:
Fredrik Norrena, Linköping
Niklas Bäckström, Kärpät
(Trawels to Austria if injuries, Pasi Nurminen, Malmö)

Defense:
Jere Karalahti, HIFK
Tuukka Mäntylä, Luulaja
Petteri Nummelin, Lugano
Pekka Saravo, Tappara
Toni Söderholm, HIFK
Lasse Kukkonen, Kärpät
Ossi Väänänen, Jokerit
Kimmo Timonen, KalPa
Antti-Jussi Niemi, Frölunda

One defender will be out from the final team and its Saravo or Mäntylä.

Centers:
Olli Jokinen, HIFK
Niko Kapanen, ZUG
Riku Hahl, HPK
Lasse Pirjetä, HIFK
Esa Pirnes, Lukko
Jari Viuhkola, Kärpät
Petri Pakaslahti, Jokerit

Two centers will watch the game from home couch (only O Jokinen and N Kapanen are sure picks)

Wingers:
Ville Peltonen, Lugano
Tomi Kallio, Frölunda
Timo Pärssinen, HIFK
Jukka Hentunen, Friburg
Niklas Hagman, Davos
Mikko Eloranta, Rapperswil
Jarkko Ruutu, HIFK
Jani Rita, HPK
Jussi Jokinen, Kärpät
Kimmo Kuhta, HIFK

One winger will not make it to the final cut(one of the bold ones)

 

[Dominus]

Ok, only one surprise; Petri Pakaslahti. What the hell is he doing there?

Couple of disappointments:
- Jarkko Immonen and Hannes Hyvönen out
- No invitation to Valtteri Filppula or Sami Lepistö

Wingers and defence look pretty good. One d-man and winger will still have to go. I hope it's either Saravo or Söderholm from the D, and I'm afraid it's Kuhta from the wing.

I'm a bit worried what they are going to do with our centers. Jokinen, Kapanen, Viuhkola, Hahl and Pirjetä would now be my choices. Please send home Pirnes and Pakaslahti...

Of course these coming EHT-games will have some kind of influence on these choices. Anyone wants to bet how many goals Kuhta has to score in those games to not get kicked out of team? I'd say at least three.

 

[mattihp]

Goalies:
Fredrik Norrena, Linköping
Niklas Bäckström, Kärpät
( Pasi Nurminen, Malmö)

Defense:
Jere Karalahti, HIFK
Petteri Nummelin, Lugano
Pekka Saravo, Tappara
Toni Söderholm, HIFK
Lasse Kukkonen, Kärpät
Ossi Väänänen, Jokerit
Kimmo Timonen, KalPa
Antti-Jussi Niemi, Frölunda


Centers:
Olli Jokinen, HIFK
Niko Kapanen, ZUG
Riku Hahl, HPK
Esa Pirnes, Lukko
Jari Viuhkola, Kärpät


Two centers will watch the game from home couch (only O Jokinen and N Kapanen are sure picks)

Wingers:
Ville Peltonen, Lugano
Tomi Kallio, Frölunda
Timo Pärssinen, HIFK
Jukka Hentunen, Friburg
Niklas Hagman, Davos
Mikko Eloranta, Rapperswil
Jarkko Ruutu, HIFK
Jani Rita, HPK
Jussi Jokinen, Kärpät


My team....

Peltonen - Jokinen - Hagman
Hentunen - Kapanen - Pärssinen
Rita/Kallio - Viuhkola - J.Jokinen
Eloranta - Hahl/Pirnes - Ruutu

Timonen - Niemi
Väänänen - Nummelin
Karalahti - Kukkonen
(Saravo - Söderholm)

Bäckström
Norrena

PP1
Peltonen - Jokinen - J.Jokinen
Karalahti - Nummelin

PP2
Pärssinen - Kapanen - Kallio/Hagman
Timonen - Kukkonen

PK1
Eloranta - Kapanen
Karalahti - Niemi

PK2
Hentunen - Viuhkola
Kukkonen - Väänänen

 

[mikkoz]

Ok, only one surprise; Petri Pakaslahti. What the hell is he doing there?

Anyone wants to bet how many goals Kuhta has to score in those games to not be kicked out of team? I'd say at least three.

Why Pakaslahti - he played well one of the EHT-tournament, and is the best face-off center we have, and is defensively good - looks like he is favourite of Westerlund on the fourth line?

Kuhta has to make a miracle because Rita is stronger and Jokinen fits well as back up if Hagman, Hentunen, Kallio etc gets injured.

 

[Dominus]

Jani Rita, HPK
Jussi Jokinen, Kärpät
Kimmo Kuhta, HIFK

One winger will not make it to the final cut(one of the bold ones)

I didn't even consider the possibility that they'd kick Jokinen out, but now that you mentioned it, they just might be that stupid. Please let it be Rita, or even Kuhta, but not Jokinen. It's just that I'd like to see even one hungry skilled youngster who's used to winning in the team, and not just these woodhanded speedsters.

 

[mikkoz]

Peltonen - Jokinen - Hagman
Hentunen - Kapanen - Pärssinen
Rita/Kallio - Viuhkola - J.Jokinen
Eloranta - Hahl/Pirnes - Ruutu

Timonen - Niemi
Väänänen - Nummelin
Karalahti - Kukkonen
(Saravo - Söderholm)

Bäckström
Norrena

Kimmo Timonen - Jere Karalahti
Petteri Nummelin - Ossi Väänänen
Toni Söderholm - Antti-Jussi Niemi
Pekka Saravo - Lasse Kukkonen

Ville Peltonen-Olli Jokinen-Niklas Hagman
Timo Pärssinen-Niko Kapanen-Jukka Hentunen
Mikko Eloranta-Petri Pakaslahti -Tomi Kallio
Jarkko Ruutu-Riku Hahl-Jani Rita
J.Jokinen-Jari Viuhkola

 

[mattihp]

Kimmo Timonen - Jere Karalahti

They've worked well together in the past, and at first I thought of making that pairing too, but it seems Juntti-Jere's endurance has taken a shot down lately... Not at all as many +20 minute games for him this season. So I'd think it'd be nice to keep his shot fresh for the PP ^^

 

[Dominus]

Why Pakaslahti - he played well one of the EHT-tournament, and is the best face-off center we have, and is defensively good - looks like he is favourite of Westerlund on the fourth line?

Yes, he seems to be Westerlund's favourite and I'm worried that he'll replace Hahl, who in my opinion is a little bit better in almost every aspect of the game. Pakaslahti is a face-off specialist, but are his skills on that department exceptional also on international level? I think we don't need him, but if they decide to keep him, I hope it doesn't mean that Hahl gets a smaller role or gets kick out of the team altogether.

edit:
I see you sketched Pakaslahti in the third line. Have to say I like your lines. There would be clearly two offensive and two defensive lines. Responsibility and ice-time could be spread quite evenly. J. Jokinen could be used as a backup for almost any role in the first two lines. I'm sold.

 

[Padawan]

Why Pakaslahti - he played well one of the EHT-tournament, and is the best face-off center we have, and is defensively good

Nope. Jarkko Immonen is the better face off man than Pakaslahti but since we have more experienced center willing to participate Immonen was let go. He isn't as good defensively as Pakaslahti so Team Finland can't use Immonen as the checking line center.

For the record, I'd rather bring in the youth and talented than use these older and more experienced.

 

[Hassan]

You made an excellent point, thanks for feedback

I mostly agree with you when it comes to defence, but why would you want to see Söderholm in the team? His season wasn't same kind of success as his last one and in the games I saw he always seemed a bit shaky. I guess he could have a shot if he performs exceptionally well in the exhibition games, but right now I can think of at least half a dozen players I'd rather see wearing our jersey in the Championships. If Söde will be in the final team, I think it proves that making contract to Switzerland automatically secures a spot in the national team.

Söderholm certainly hasn't done his best this season, you got that right. The reason I'd take him in is Karalahti. The thing is that those two defencemen are playing well together and I personally like their style.

When it comes to young players such as Lepistö, Filppula and Immonen, it is sure that they should have more experience in international games, so as to evolve and one day become key players in the national team. That is, however, mark my words, ONE DAY, not just yet, and certainly not if we really want to win the WCH. In other less-important tournaments it's ok to take young dog in for a try-out. I'm not saying that they're not good players or anything.

Pirjetä in for sure? In my books he's out of the team for sure. You don't want us to have a grindline of Ruutu-Hahl-Eloranta, for example? In my opinion these guys are immensely underrated. This kinda line could be very valuable against the better opponents and could be used to shut down the likes of Jagr, Thornton etc.

Pirjetä is in for sure. He very versatile player with size, and both checking and scoring abilities. Eloranta is also definitely our guy, being sort of all-around bloke. The idea you presented about blocking the better opponents with tough and stubborn players is exactly what I would use Eloranta to. In addition, Eloranta is a gret provoker on ice. Ruutu, however, is a bit too rough and foolish player for such work. Hahl is a good player, but there are better ones and that's why I would leave him out

I thought Markkanen and Nurminen had already refused, but if that's not the case, I'd gladly take Markkanen to be the number one goalie. .

Nurminen hasn't refused and I haven't heard anything of Markkanen. Nurminen is even in the Training camp team, though back-up but still in.

 

[Hassan]

My team....

Peltonen - Jokinen - Hagman
Hentunen - Kapanen - Pärssinen
Rita/Kallio - Viuhkola - J.Jokinen
Eloranta - Hahl/Pirnes - Ruutu

Timonen - Niemi
Väänänen - Nummelin
Karalahti - Kukkonen
(Saravo - Söderholm)

in the first line I'd switch Hagman to left side and Peltonen to right because I think Peltonen is more comfortable on right than Hagman. Second line is ok, but in the third line I'd definitely take Kallio. He is absolutely better then Rita. Pirnes should get kicked off the team and Ruutu should be in only if there's no-one else to play. Timonen and Nummelin should play together. And even though I'm a fanatic Kärpät-fan, I'd sack Kukkonen and take Mäntylä in. Söderholm should also be chosen and put to play with Karalahti.

I think Kuhta and Pakaslahti will be sent home. I also hope that Pirnes, Ruutu and Saravo wouldn't be chosen to give space for better players.

...and one more thing: Hahl off the team and Pirjetä in

 

[mattihp]

in the first line I'd switch Hagman to left side and Peltonen to right because I think Peltonen is more comfortable on right than Hagman. Second line is ok, but in the third line I'd definitely take Kallio. He is absolutely better then Rita. Pirnes should get kicked off the team and Ruutu should be in only if there's no-one else to play. Timonen and Nummelin should play together. And even though I'm a fanatic Kärpät-fan, I'd sack Kukkonen and take Mäntylä in. Söderholm should also be chosen and put to play with Karalahti.

I think Kuhta and Pakaslahti will be sent home. I also hope that Pirnes, Ruutu and Saravo wouldn't be chosen to give space for better players.

...and one more thing: Hahl off the team and Pirjetä in

I put Hakke on the right side since he's had a couple of nagging injuries that might make it easier if he doesn't have to skate his way to the right side all the time (since that is where he scores roughly 80% of his goals).

Second line is more than ok, they'll be a consistant threat to opposing teams.

Rita and Kallio should double on the third line, Kallio might start his decline soon and it would be good to play in some of the younger players too.

Pirnes works hard and doesn't take as many shifts off as Pirjetä would.

Ruutu is essential for that line to be ready to play big minutes if the scoring lines need resting, and since there's no Nemo, a Ruutu-led world class cycling-enforcing line would be great.

I would rather see Timonen get some room for offensive play than have him save Nummelin's mistakes all game long..

And I want Kukkonen there, since he's looking like his old good self and needs this for his confidence to continue.

Söderholm has looked rather lame on the national team earlier, but he should get a couple of chances as the first fill-in guy if someone plays poorly.

And not to sound canadian... But this defense does not need another tiny smurf... So no Mäntylä, although of the normally european-based guys, he has the best skillset defensively and pretty good offense too.

Hahl has to be there, ahead of a guy like Pirjetä at least...

 

[Dominus]

That is, however, mark my words, ONE DAY, not just yet, and certainly not if we really want to win the WCH. In other less-important tournaments it's ok to take young dog in for a try-out.

Ok, in my mind this is the less-important tournament and that's why I would have taken those juniors in, especially when you consider the fact that we're going to be underdogs anyway. We're missing most of our best players, so it would require a small miracle to win the championship. It's not like I'm giving up though, I actually like this situation, but I also would've liked to see some young talent in the team. We cannot make any experiments in the olympic squad, so now it could have been the time to try something new. On the other hand I understand that Westerlund doesn't want to gamble with the youngsters because his own job could be on the line as well. I see these games as a win-win-situation; either we do well, which is nice and better than expected, or we fall flat on our faces, which hopefully results in some big changes in leadership of Finnish Ice-hockey Association.

Ruutu, however, is a bit too rough and foolish player for such work. Hahl is a good player, but there are better ones and that's why I would leave him out

I think people concentrate too much on some of the foolish things Ruutu does in SM-league or in the NHL. There's different kind of discipline in the national team and every game counts, plus there isn't that extra HIFK-mentality, which drives sane people to do stupid things. I would really like to see him harassing the opponents with Eloranta.

Which current national team player is better than Hahl in his role as a grindline center? My only concern with him is his faceoff skills. Can he handle important faceoffs in the own end?

 

[Jussi]

He won Tappara a championship not many seasons ago

Yeah, 2 years ago! He's done jacks*** in international games.