WJC 2016 - Roster Talk

[JJTT]

Is Hintz really the #1C?? How good is he?

Same question goes for Vehviläinen

Because of the depth on the forward group we will likely have 3 scoring lines so doesn't really matter who is the #1C on paper.

Hintz has not played a game this year because of back injury so it's kinda hard to say how good he will be.

Siikonen will likely be the #1C on the PK and Nättinen on the powerplay, so Hintz doesn't really have a huge responsibility on everything like Teräväinen or Granlund did in the past tournaments.

Both Vehviläinen and Kähkönen are good goalies, who should be able to steal games if the defense plays well enough.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Is Hintz really the #1C?? How good is he?

Same question goes for Vehviläinen

Vehviläinen was phenomenal, in last U18 WJC's in Switzerland.
And directorate of tournament, chosen him for all-star team goalie.

Hintz has been injured, for whole early season.
He has back injury, and he hasn't skated or take physical contact at all since may.

That's why Hintz missed Dallas Stars prospect development camp.
And Finland's world junior training camp in Vierumäki, and evaluation camp in Lake Placid

Hintz's should be back for, HIFK's roster after november's national team break.
Schedule for Hintz's return is 2-3 weeks.

I don't know exactly what, roster projections Jukka Jalonen has made.
But Hintz is useful player, and he could play for center and winger.

 

[FiLe]

Is Hintz really the #1C?? How good is he?

Same question goes for Vehviläinen

Let's put it like this: If Hintz is healthy and has some games on his belt by the Boxing Day, he will most likely be one of our top-3 centermen. The other two will be Nättinen and Saarela. But given the depth, the line numberings are pretty much irrelevant.

I placed Hintz in a position where I feel a fully healthy Hintz looks most natural. But that's just my touch on it. The reality of our top-9 is more like this:

You have three good centres.

Hintz
Nättinen
Saarela


And you have six very good wingers.

Rantanen
Kapanen
Laine
Puljujärvi
Aho
Repo

Granted that the entire top-9 is healthy and available, you can take any centre and any two wingers and put them in a line together and that's an excellent unit (at least on paper) and would be the #1 line on almost any given year. Except this time 'round, we have three of them. Should really tell you all you need about the quality of offence this year.

That being said, it's up to Jalonen to find the best chemistry packages out of that nine, and even then, there are a handful of darkhorses like Lammikko and Tammela looking on in to grab a spot.

---

What comes to goalies, Kähkönen and Vehviläinen are both solid and as far their numbers from the ongoing season show, both very, very even. It might be impossible to say before the games which one of them will break out as the go-to-guy. I expect Kähkönen to get the initial nod because of his seniority, but if one of 'em falters and another looks solid, it shouldn't be too difficult to turn the tables.

Some folks seem to have a hard-on on Vehviläinen after a rather solid U18 WC performance last spring, but said singular performance should really not be the divisive factor here. Even if it should have been enough for some organization to take a late-round flyer on him in the draft, especially given the status of some of the other netminding prospects who heard their names called. Someone will now end up paying the price with a higher-round pick next summer.

But as far as these games are concerned, we have two who are even and will just have to wait and see to determine which one pulls ahead. I personally consider Kähkönen the designated starter as of right now, but that is a very loose designation.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

http://www.leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet...valmiina-kotiturnaukseen-katso-nimilista.html.

Who's Emil Larmi, really unknown goalie for me.

http://www.leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet...-mukana-onnistujia-useista-eri-sarjoista.html

HIFK's Henrik Borgström in the team, do you see him potential challenger for roster spot into home world juniors in December.
Now he has chance to show his skills, and make an impact for coaches.

For me Borgström would be solid replace for Rantanen, if Colorado and San Antonio won't him release into world juniors.

 

[FiLe]

Who's Emil Larmi, really unknown goalie for me.

Someone with pretty nice stats from Mestis. Good to see them still checking out challengers for 3rd string. Let's keep in mind that while the guy in this role is mostly inconsequential, he is just one injury away from dressing. No need to get sloppy charting for him either.

HIFK's Henrik Borgström in the team, do you see him potential challenger for roster spot into home world juniors in December.
Now he has chance to show his skills, and make an impact for coaches.

For me Borgström would be solid replace for Rantanen, if Colorado and San Antonio won't him release into world juniors.

Whoa there, kiddo. Anybody has a chance, I guess, but for someone who's hardly even in the bubble yet it would truly take a standout performance to climb into consideration - let alone being mentioned as a potential Rantanen replacement. I mean, this is a guy who hasn't even made his senior debut yet, so it's a preeeeetty tall order to compare him to someone who's already been to the NHL.

And especially so in a class as deep as this. Even if we don't get Rantanen, let's also keep in mind that there are still quite a bit of guys with far more prominence vying for a spot in the top lines, like the five still-obvious picks plus Tammela and Lammikko.

 

[edd1e]

Jalonen spoke about Kapanen like he (Kasperi) doesnt want to join u20 team.

Rough translation goes something like this:

-We havent been able to get Kapanen to participate in our project. So i dont know what is his situation. Players should not join our team if they dont want to. I dont know what are his intresses right now.

 

[FiLe]

Jalonen spoke about Kapanen like he (Kasperi) doesnt want to join u20 team.

Rough translation goes something like this:

-We havent been able to get Kapanen to participate in our project. So i dont know what is his situation. Players should not join our team if they dont want to. I dont know what are his intresses right now.

If it's this story you took that quote from, that translation is a little harsh. To me, Jalonen simply laments that he hasn't had the opportunity to coach Kapanen in any of the games over the season. A more accurate translation would be "He hasn't been in any of our events" - a very matter-of-fact statement.

As for the rest, it's closer to "We aren't going to force anybody to join, and I can't say more than that now, as I don't know where his interests lie" - in other words, that's just typically overdiplomatic Jalonen to you. It doesn't really read to me that Kapanen doesn't want to come nor Jalonen doesn't want him, simply that it's still up in the air.

Here is Kapanen saying he has nothing against being invited - IF he doesn't fit the Maple Leafs roster. It's a bit older piece, so who knows what developments there have been since then. But I'd still say the odds are he'll be here, if the Leafs just let him.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Jalonen spoke about Kapanen like he (Kasperi) doesnt want to join u20 team.

Rough translation goes something like this:

-We havent been able to get Kapanen to participate in our project. So i dont know what is his situation. Players should not join our team if they dont want to. I dont know what are his intresses right now.

Personally Kapanen isn't for me, so important player like Puljujärvi and Laine are.
But if he join into team, it's great and if he won't it's great too.

Finland's chances for win a gold medal, won't fall that if Kapanen won't come to world juniors.

 

[FiLe]

Personally Kapanen isn't for me, so important player like Puljujärvi and Laine are.
But if he join into team, it's great and if he won't it's great too.

Finland's chances for win a gold medal, won't fall that if Kapanen won't come to world juniors.

Missing any single player from the current selection wouldn't be critical. It would simply mean slightly less stacked offence. Heck, we could miss up to three and it would still be an above average lineup, compared both to the other teams in this tournament and past iterations of Team Finland.

 

[edd1e]

Well, my translation was quite literal. I wasn't trying to sell you guys a story. That's just the way saw it.

File if you think mine is harsh, i think yours is quite watered down.

Anyway i don't even mind if Kapanen is left out. He was pretty bad last year.

 

[FiLe]

File if you think mine is harsh, i think yours is quite watered down.

It'd be highly unusual for a coach to hint they're not interested in a player and/or he is not interested in them two months before the puck drop, so interpreting it as neutrally as possible is not so much "watering down" as it should be the norm.

It's true that Kapanen won't be a crucial piece to this team (and some even say we could be better off, given his previous NT endeavours), but at the same time it should be plenty obvious they'll have a player of his stature if he's just willing to come. And it's highly doubtful too that they'd have Kapanen on the record stating he's not willing to come. They simply haven't talked to him at all (yet), and Jalonen's comments reflect that.

I don't think Jalonen's spoken to Rantanen either since Lake Placid.

 

[SoupyFIN]

On that same article, it says at the end that Jalonen is going to see Kapanen's game during his OHL trip.

I doubt Jalonen would proclaim his disinterest on a player before he's even seen the guy play. It's just worded poorly in a way that it can be interpreted loosely, especially if translated.

 

[FiLe]

Well, I guess this ends all talk about the current subject.

In short, both Kapanen and Rantanen are ready, willing and able if the club just lets them. Per their own words.

 

[JJTT]

Laine will return to action tonight and Hintz will likely play his first game of the season tomorrow.

Laine-Hintz-Rantanen
Aho-Saarela-Puljujärvi
Tammela-Nättinen-Kapanen
Lammikko-Siikonen-Repo

 

[Orvelo]

Laine will return to action tonight and Hintz will likely play his first game of the season tomorrow.

Laine-Hintz-Rantanen
Aho-Saarela-Puljujärvi
Tammela-Nättinen-Kapanen
Lammikko-Siikonen-Repo

That is just filthy

 

[FiLe]

Laine-Hintz-Rantanen
Aho-Saarela-Puljujärvi
Tammela-Nättinen-Kapanen
Lammikko-Siikonen-Repo

That's a wicked, even lineup. While I've this feeling that Jalonen may be looking to insert another two-way specialist like Kiviranta in the favor of an offensive utility forward like Tammela, on a personal level that ticks all kinds of boxes on me. Each and every line would be a legitimate scoring threat.

Regardless of what the final setup will be, if all of the heavy hitters just are healthy available, there's no reason to stack at least three offensive lines.

 

[Fawkes]

Laine-Hintz-Rantanen
Aho-Saarela-Puljujärvi
Tammela-Nättinen-Kapanen
Lammikko-Siikonen-Repo

I would probably switch Hintz and Nättinen head to head, but otherwise it looks really good. I'm a little worried how Saarela will perform as the No. 2 center, as he hasn't shown much this season in Liiga. But if I recall correct he has played rather well with Puljujärvi in the NT, so I think it's worth a try. Kalapudas would be another option, but he doesn't impress me at all. Kiviranta will most likely make the team and serve as a bottom line/extra forward energybunny.

 

[FiLe]

I would probably switch Hintz and Nättinen head to head, but otherwise it looks really good. I'm a little worried how Saarela will perform as the No. 2 center, as he hasn't shown much this season in Liiga. But if I recall correct he has played rather well with Puljujärvi in the NT, so I think it's worth a try.

With depth like this, line numberings between 1-3 are pretty much irrelevant. Doubly so, since Jalonen has always been a proponent of cycling all lines with pretty even TOI. So there's really no reason to worry unless you think Saarela should lead the 4th line which may contain more defensively-minded players or be an extra forward.

That being said, only flaw in Saarela's game this season has been his production. He's now got a cemented spot down Ässät's middle lane and has shown to be able to play solid two-way game. With suitably offensively-minded linemates (which he will likely have no matter the line he plays in), who do the brunt of the work upwards, he could just carry on doing what he's doing and do just fine.

 

[rduck1]

As expected, Hintz is in the lineup for HIFK tonight against Blues. Playing on the right wing with Tomas Zaborsky and Robert Leino according to the pre-match report. Good news for the WJC-squad.

 

[FiLe]

I have to say, Hintz looked surprisingly good for someone who's just been sidelined for a long while. Barring another injury, there should be no question whether he's going to be (yet another) asset for this team.

Heh, you could almost say they're spoiling us rotten right now. If everyone just stays healthy and both Rantanen and Kapanen get to come... this team's truly going to be something special. Pretty much only thing ruining the anticipation now would be Jalonen making some bizarre cuts and subbing them with left-field picks.



And yet, I have this nagging feeling we're going to see one or two just like that, because coaches are... you know.

 

[FinPanda]

Or they will flop like the last great team with Pulkkinen and Granlund etc.

I hope not. Looks really good so far.

 

[FiLe]

Or they will flop like the last great team with Pulkkinen and Granlund etc.

The team with all the -92s didn't really flop royally, given how they made the semis and all... but they did falter somewhat on the finish line.

The next team with the -93s (MaG, Armia, etc) leading the charge did flop royally. But in both of these cases, we really can blame some truly inept coaching. Luckily Jalonen should be in whole another league compared to Raipe and Rindell. Though I guess there is bit of a worry that he overthinks something instead and gets too cute with the details.

 

[bebl]

Guys yes our offense one of the best i've seen from us, but that defense...... I just hope Jalonen takes both Niemeläinen and Juolevi from OHL.

 

[FiLe]

Guys yes our offense one of the best i've seen from us, but that defense...... I just hope Jalonen takes both Niemeläinen and Juolevi from OHL.

What's wrong with a defense full of guys who are already Liiga regulars? Sure, it's not as impressive in contrast to the offense, but it's not like that department will consist of pushovers either. It's actually mostly just illusion IMO. The defense simply looks lacking because the offense is down right stacked. Of course it'd be nice to feel hyped about the quality of our d-men to the same capacity we feel about our forwards, but let's not err to think that the lack of hype means a lack of proven performers.

I figure at least one of Juolevi/Niemeläinen should make the team, but the main pick from OHL ought to be Saarijärvi. Our domestic league can supply the rest.

 

[rduck1]

I think the selection of the younger CHL D-men will largely depend on whether Jalonen is planning to run 6 or 8 defensemen. With 6 it's probably going to be just Saarijärvi and Juolevi from the CHL. With 8 Niemeläinen and/or Välimäki are probably on the team as well. All four seem to be doing really well at least on the scoreboard, though I'd like to hear some reports on their performance in the other end.

On the whole I think the defense looks pretty good. We have a few players who already have lots of top-level experience(Tuulola, Niku), a couple of really well performing players in CHL, and some big, solid stay-at-home types(Mikkola, Sopanen). And then there are Niemeläinen, Välimäki, Vainio, etc. that have obvious talent though it might not be their time yet. Aaaand then there are even more options like Keskitalo and Moberg... Lots of choices, plenty of quality in my opinion. Tuulola has been mostly playing the right side this season too I think, so that along with some good right-shooting forwards for the PP should alleviate some of the potential handedness issues.

So yeah, the players available look really good right now. If Jalonen does his part, we should see good things.