This is wrong information, or old information accurately. Finnish junior system really was "tanking" for long time. But it has changed and started to produce now. It produces quality medicore NHL'ers but also guys like Vatanen, Pulkkinen, Barkov, Armia. These guys will not be medicore. They are either bust out of NHL or high impact star players at their prime. Vatanen already is star level offensvie defenseman.
It feels great to be right in this one. I wouldn't have believed that I am forced to say your writing is bs 10 years ago.. but it is.
Do you realize we can't produce guys like Selanne or Kurri every year? There are only 18 players in history of game, counting easier scoring eras, that have scored 600. Sweden and Russia have zero players that have scored 600 goals. That's right, Russia and Sweden haven't 600 goals or more scorers! Country of 5 million people will not produce this level of legends on yearly basis. Just because selanne is retiring there is no reason to panic. Look at our juniors going there and braking in NHL rosters at their first year in NA! Respect to the kinds of Granlund, Teräväinen, Lindbohm, Jokipakka also. More is coming! Wait for Puljujärvi, Kapanen (yes) and others! There will be new names every single year, some of them all will be stars as I said, and I usually am right about players here at HFboards as you have already seen!
I'd say Sweden has better players atm, but that's because they refreshed their juniorsystem earlier than finns, mostly becuase of that. We are coming the same route and are now understanding the importance of individual skills. I think a good "joker" card into the soup is Santeri Saari, who has alot of experience for he's age at top level. I see him possibly becoming at least new Kukkonen / Väänänen but better. Kukkonen & Väänänen, specially like 2-4 years ago, were really underrated players.