NHL Draft 2014 Finnish Players

[FiLe]

Jake Virtanen also has double nationality canadian and finnish. His played for canada and stated wants to play for canada but if he wont get into the mens national team for canada in future liitto needs to keep watch on this kid also. Im not sure in how the rules work from switching youth national team to different in mens level but nevertheless have to keep in mind this Nico Rosberg of hockey although him ever playing for finland national team is very unlikely.

The IIHF's rules are pretty simple, and you could have looked 'em up before posting.

1) A player with dual nationality who has no previous official participation (any IIHF sanctioned tournament, U18, U20, Men's) gets to pick the country he represents.

2) A player who gains a second nationality later on but has not yet represented his country of origin, has to play for two consecutive seasons in a club that operates from the country the player wishes to represent.

3) A player who has represented one country and wishes to switch has to play for four consecutive seasons in a club that operates from the country the player wishes to represent.


Virtanen represented Canada in U18 last spring. That makes him a case that falls under #3. It would mean he'd have to head to Finland and play for four straight years either in some Liiga team or Jokerit.

If Virtanen is good enough for the NHL, he's not heading to Finland, period. If he's not good enough, this option might become feasible. However, if this happens, he's likely not a player who would be a shoo-in to the NT.

So in practice, Liitto can pretty much forget about him.

 

[Erikfromfin]

Good job digging the rules up. Jea 4 years is simply too much and too long for any scenario to snap him. Liitto can forget.