WJC 2016 - Roster Talk

[MarVell]

Well so much for that long term coach for Pikkuleijonat, again...

Please explain!?

 

[FiLe]

It certainly looks like a scenario where we just can't win. If the guy does bad, nobody wants to see him continue. If the guy does good, the KHL just swoops down and whisks him away.

 

[Jussi]

Please explain!?

Jalonen will take over Jokerit next season.

 

[FinPanda]

This sucks.

 

[JJTT]

Just hire somebody like Juuso Nieminen and Jussi Ahokas for the job. Those guys shouldn't be leaving right away and have been doing great with juniors already.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Just hire somebody like Juuso Nieminen and Jussi Ahokas for the job. Those guys shouldn't be leaving right away and have been doing great with juniors already.

How about Tero Lehterä?
Lehterä has done excellent job, with espoo blues juniors.
And he knows how to develop young players.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

It certainly looks like a scenario where we just can't win. If the guy does bad, nobody wants to see him continue. If the guy does good, the KHL just swoops down and whisks him away.

KHL money talks.
Hopefully this not affect negatively, for Finland's preparing to home world juniors

I don't wanna see Finland fall 7th place again.
Only achievement should be world junior gold medal, in our home ice.

 

[Tormentor]

Pre-season lottery:

Patrik Laine (-98) - Julius Nättinen (-97) - Mikko Rantanen (-96)
Sebastian Aho (-97) - Antti Kalapudas (-96) - Jesse Puljujärvi (-98)
Roope Hintz (-96) - Frank Gymer (-96) - Kasperi Kapanen (-96)
Joel Kiviranta (-96) - Miska Siikonen (-96) - Juho Lammikko (-96)
Jonne Tammela (-97)

Joni Tuulola (-96) - Vili Saarijärvi (-97)
Olli Juolevi (-98) - Niko Mikkola (-96)
Sami Niku (-96) - Eetu Sopanen (-96)
Miro Keskitalo (-96)

Veini Vehviläinen (-97)
Kaapo Kähkönen (-96)
Joona Voutilainen (-96)

--

Challengers, the bolded ones might have the best chance of making the final team;

Aleksi Saarela (-97) - Teemu Lämsä (-96) - Sebastian Repo (-96)
Waltteri Hopponen (-96) - Miikka Pitkänen (-96) - Patrik Virta (-96)
Eetu Elo (-96) - Manu Honkanen (-96) - Miro Ruokonen (-96)
Atte Mäkinen (-96) - Miro Mäkinen (-96) - Kasper Björkqvist (-97)
Petrus Palmu (-97)

Matias Haaranen (-96) - Jere Rouhiainen (-96)
Otto Leskinen (-97) - Jesper Mattila (-97)
Ville Väinölä (-96) - Juuso Välimäki (-98)
Markus Niemeläinen (-98)

Nico Viksten (-97)
Markus Ruusu (-97)

 

[Jussi]

If he's healthy and not in a total slump, I don't see Aleksi Saarela being dropped from the team. He'll probably play with Puljujärvi and Laine.

 

[Tormentor]

If he's healthy and not in a total slump, I don't see Aleksi Saarela being dropped from the team. He'll probably play with Puljujärvi and Laine.

Saarela started the Lake Placid evaluation camp on the same line with Laine and Puljujärvi. Laine-Puljujärvi connecton worked well and they were dangerous, but Saarela didn't add much to the equation. To the 2nd game Gymer took Saarela's spot in the middle and that worked fairly well, Gymer complemented his linemates better. Jalonen took a fresh look at Laine-Saarela-Puljujärvi line in the last game against USA, but midway through the game Gymer took Saarela's spot once again. I think it's safe to say that Gymer outplayed Saarela in this event.

My view is that Rantanen, Laine, Puljujärvi, Aho, Nättinen, Kapanen and Hintz are the top-7 forwards for this team. Gymer isn't the greatest talent out there, but he proved that he can play with more talented players and not look out of place. Kalapudas performed well at the 4-nations tourney last week and we all know the chemistry he has with Aho and Puljujärvi. It's unlikely that all the top forwards are available, but if that's the case, Saarela might not find a top-9 role on this team. When it comes to the 4th line I think Kiviranta, Siikonen and Lammikko are better suited for that role. There's still a lot of hockey to be played before the WJC's, but in this scenario Tammela and Saarela would be the ones battling for the 13th forward spot.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

If he's healthy and not in a total slump, I don't see Aleksi Saarela being dropped from the team. He'll probably play with Puljujärvi and Laine.

Laine Saarela Puljujärvi was, finland's best scoring line in U18 WJC's.
But in U20 WJC's Laine should play, with Palmu and Nättinen.

Palmu Nättinen Laine worked really well, in U17 national team and they did serious damage there.

Finland needs serious scoring threat to all first 3 lines.
Based on that line ups should be next.

Aho Saarela Puljujärvi
Kapanen Hintz Rantanen
Palmu Nättinen Laine.

4th line might be
Siikonen Kalapudas Lammikko

Or
Lammikko Virta Tammela

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Roope Hintz's participating in world juniors, is very questionable right now.
Hintz is injured he has some-kind back injury, and he can't take contact or skate right now.

Hintz will miss probably all september's liiga games in HIFK.
HIFK hasn't announced when Hintz is back, but that's for sure he won't play any games before october.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Laine Saarela Puljujärvi was, finland's best scoring line in U18 WJC's.
But in U20 WJC's Laine should play, with Palmu and Nättinen.

Palmu Nättinen Laine worked really well, in U17 national team and they did serious damage there.

Finland needs serious scoring threat to all first 3 lines.
Based on that line ups should be next.

Aho Saarela Puljujärvi
Kapanen Hintz Rantanen
Palmu Nättinen Laine.

4th line might be
Siikonen Kalapudas Lammikko

Or
Lammikko Virta Tammela

I agree with your reasoning. I would like to see these first 3 lines though:

Laine–Nättinen–Rantanen
Aho–Saarela–Puljujärvi
Kalapudas–Hintz–Kapanen

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

I agree with your reasoning. I would like to see these first 3 lines though:

Laine–Nättinen–Rantanen
Aho–Saarela–Puljujärvi
Kalapudas–Hintz–Kapanen

Those line ups looks good.

But as i mentioned upper, Hintz is injured and he hasn't practiced with HIFK at all because of back injury.
Hintz missed Dallas Stars rookie development camp this summer.

Also he missed first U20 evaluation camp and lake placid U20 tournament.
Right now Hintz's participating in world juniors in very questionable.

HIFK hasn't announced when Hintz returns, but i assume that he won't play any games before October.
If Hintz missed world juniors, Finland needs plan B

But what the plan B will be, is it that Kalapudas centering 3rd line and Eetu Tuulola is LW that line or is Frank Gymer 3rd line center.
If Finland wants to be serious gold medal contender, Finland needs serious scoring threat all three lines and powerplay units.

Also Finland needs stacked and stable shorthanded unit, and strong defense with good goaltending ( Vehviläinen or Kähkönen).
I have huge expectations ( Only gold medal is good result) for these world juniors and, I don't wanna see Finland falling again 7th place, in our home world juniors.

 

[JJTT]

http://www.hs.fi/urheilu/a1441253842004

Hintz will start practicing next week so he should be back soon.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

http://www.hs.fi/urheilu/a1441253842004

Hintz will start practicing next week so he should be back soon.

That's really good.

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

How about Tero Lehterä?
Lehterä has done excellent job, with espoo blues juniors.
And he knows how to develop young players.

Has he?
Doing well with Blues Juniors is like.. David Coulthard in a McClaren, a bunch think he's doing a good job but in reality he's just average. Blues juniors has too much depth imo to be considered as a badge of performance for a coach.

 

[Fawkes]

Just listened the clip JJTT posted on the Patrik Laine thread. There was a lot of discussion about the upcoming WJC tournament. Jalonen was also interviewed and he said he's planning on going to see some OHL games in mid-November. I was pleased to hear that, it's something Jortikka (and many coaches before him) never did. Nice to see that Jalonen is really putting an effort on scouting all the possible players and selecting the best team possible.

He was also asked about Eetu Tuulola, and he said Eetu is a good player, but this years tournament might come too fast for him. Nothing surprising about that as Laine, Puljujärvi and Juolevi will probably be the only 98's on the team, Niemeläinen maybe if he has a strong season with Saginaw.

Also one intresting piece of information: Jalonen said that playing in Liiga/Mestis is not a requirement for making the final team. He even said that one or two players from the A-juniors will probably make the team.

 

[FiLe]

In his typical manner, Jalonen never picks the best individuals, but busts his hind side to find the best fitting pieces to the roles he wants them to execute. It's great dedication, but on the downside, we've also seen it backfire a handful of times when a coach got too cute with the selection.

He even said that one or two players from the A-juniors will probably make the team.

No surprise, actually, if said statement includes goalies as well.

 

[Loffer]

In his typical manner, Jalonen never picks the best individuals, but busts his hind side to find the best fitting pieces to the roles he wants them to execute. It's great dedication, but on the downside, we've also seen it backfire a handful of times when a coach got too cute with the selection.

No surprise, actually, if said statement includes goalies as well.

That is pure insanity. The guy should update his system and philosophy. His overemphasis on "roles" goes hand in hand with his perverse adherence to those obsolete tactical ideas that kill the flow and pace of the game. -- It might still work with the kids though. I dunno.

 

[JJTT]

Also one intresting piece of information: Jalonen said that playing in Liiga/Mestis is not a requirement for making the final team. He even said that one or two players from the A-juniors will probably make the team.

Other than Siikonen and Repo, none of the juniors really seem like realistic candidates.

Stubb mentioned Henrik Börgström by name, and Jalonen said that he is on the radar. Currently playing as #1C for HIFK's U20 team.

 

[FiLe]

That is pure insanity.

For what it's worth, even if we had 12 patriklaines and puljujärvis, I'd like to see some lammikkos and lämsäs in the roster too. Of course, if said laine types *can* play in two-way/grinder role too, then they should make it instead of someone who is considered a "specialist" for the job.

Other than Siikonen and Repo, none of the juniors really seem like realistic candidates.

I'd say that Voutilainen and Väliharju have chances to break into the goalie trio. Maybe just as 3rd string, but regardless.

 

[Eyelanders]

I like the line-up which Tormentor put on post #108. I also think Gymer has a good chance to play at the tournament, he's offensively pretty versatile and his skating is at a good level. Also, I saw Lämsä with TPS at the start of the U20 season and he didn't impress me at all. Made some bad passes and he doesn't have the skating ability or hockey sense to play at the WJC in my opinion. Siikonen is a good option for the fourth line.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Roope Hintz is still away of HIFK's regular season roster, and HIFK has announced it's not better to wait him back very soon.
Right now there's not any guarantees or schedule, when Hintz will be back.

Jatkoaika.com HIFK board, headed Hintz has skated last time in may.
Right now Hintz's participating in world juniors, is more than questionable.

Based on those facts Jukka Jalonen and his coaching staff, must thinking that how Finland will replace Roope Hintz.
If he can't play in home world juniors.

Facts are these when Hintz returns to HIFK's team practices, he'll be badly day to day shape.
And honestly said if Hintz isn't fully recovered, when world juniors begins. There's no sense to choose him in the team.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

For what it's worth, even if we had 12 patriklaines and puljujärvis, I'd like to see some lammikkos and lämsäs in the roster too. Of course, if said laine types *can* play in two-way/grinder role too, then they should make it instead of someone who is considered a "specialist" for the job.

I'd say that Voutilainen and Väliharju have chances to break into the goalie trio. Maybe just as 3rd string, but regardless.

Also HIFK's Christian Heljanko, is one goalie candidate in world juniors.
So are defenseman's Miro Karjalainen and Sebastian Moberg.

Both Karjalainen and Moberg are born 1996.
And they are available to participate, Finland in home world juniors this december.