Sweden top line* vs Finland top line*

[Ben White]

*Top line as in best possible top 5. Not necessarily how they’d be deployed in a real game.

Sweden

Pettersson - Zibanejad - Bratt
Dahlin/Hedman - Karlsson

Finland

Aho - Barkov - Rantanen
Heiskanen - Maatta

Click to read more...

 

[psycat]

Homer vote for Sweden but it's really a toss up, slightly prefer Finlands forwards and slightly prefer Swedens dmen(Although I am not so sure I would have Karlsson there).

 

[norrisnick]

No way it's really Maatta as the 2nd best Finn D is it?

 

[DragoGrizzly]

No way it's really Maatta as the 2nd best Finn D is it?

Yeah I think Lindell would be a better choice.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Maatta clearly the weak link but I got it 3-0 for the forwards favouring Finland.

 

[centipede2233]

i Like Sweden’s group.

 

[Avs2022]

Sweden's D is better, but Finland's forwards sre better. Hmmm. I choose Finland.

 

[zzs06]

Finlands forwards are much better. Matta is the worst player of the bunch but overall I take Finland for sure

 

[jetsforever]

Think I'd take Finland but their defence is much worse

 

[Ben White]

Fun fact, even though it’s a bit irrelevant here and I agree the Finnish group of forwards is slightly better, this season the Swedish group of 5 has 86 points, the Finnish group 56

 

[Mulletman]

Rantanen and Maatta wouldn't make the first line. Especially Rantanen, since there's no way that Patrick Laine wouldn't make the first line.

 

[ninetyeight]

Are Finland's forwards even that much better? Those three Swedes are out producing the three Finns by 52pts to 42pts. The Finn forwards are better defensively, but overall I don't think there's a huge difference. And then you have Määttä in defence, Sweden should win the paper matchup.

 

[wintersej]

Maatta is a massive weak link against top international competition. I think it should be Lindell as others have stated above. But based on the rosters in the OP, I think you have to take Sweden even if Finland has an edge at all three forward spots. The drop off to Sweden is still first line talent and none of the Fins are named McDavid or Gretzky.

 

[Peeri]

Rantanen and Maatta wouldn't make the first line. Especially Rantanen, since there's no way that Patrick Laine wouldn't make the first line.

Laine hype train was over in 2018, get back to reality. He is barely producing at 0,5ppg today, while being trash at own end at his "peak" years. Rantanen is so clear of him.

 

[Gubbhornet]

I just get sad when I see the lack of Swedish star forwards nowadays...

Finland wins


//Swede

 

[Hisch13r]

Sweden because Maatta is a massive weak link here.

 

[Marioesque]

Laine hype train was over in 2018, get back to reality. He is barely producing at 0,5ppg today, while being trash at own end at his "peak" years. Rantanen is so clear of him.

It would be Laine-Barkov-Rantanen anyway, there is no way Aho plays wing when he's an elite center.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

*Top line as in best possible top 5. Not necessarily how they’d be deployed in a real game.

Sweden

Pettersson - Zibanejad - Bratt
Dahlin/Hedman - Karlsson

Finland

Aho - Barkov - Rantanen
Heiskanen - Maatta

"Best possible top 5"

Goes on to put Maatta on D....

 

[HaNotsri]

Swedish D should be Hedman-Dahlin

Finland must have someone better than Matta? I know he's improved but still...

 

[Marioesque]

Swedish D should be Hedman-Dahlin

Finland must have someone better than Matta? I know he's improved but still...

Would it even matter much with Aho and Barkov on the ice at the same time? They'll have the puck. The whole time.

 

[MightySelanne8]

Is Määttä here just to make it a tough decision? Replace him with Lindell and the answer is (atleast for me) easily Fin.

 

[RapidKnight]

Sweden with Forsberg instead of Pettersson.

 

[Haatley]

Sweden has better defense by large margin.

Finland has better forwards.
Too close to call for me.

 

[Honest M]

Forsberg Landeskog, maybe Nylander for Sweden on the flanks


Landeskog, Zib and Forsberg/Nylander is a better option

 

[DingDongCharlie]

It would be Laine-Barkov-Rantanen anyway, there is no way Aho plays wing when he's an elite center.

Can’t agree with you on this. When Olympic rosters are put together you usually see centres playing on the wing. Teams put the best players they have out. Ignoring this, the OP even stipulated top 5 not specifically how you’d deploy them in game.

Laine is not getting consideration here.