Team Finland @ 2014 WJC
- Thread starter bebl
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edd1e
Registered User
If this is true and he's really agreed to even do it without salary, then it's pretty darn interesting to see what follows when Jabba eventually declines.
I expect plenty of flames in the media and the global price of corn going through the roof.
I expect plenty of flames in the media and the global price of corn going through the roof.
edd1e
Registered User
C'mon, do any of you really believe that Kale's ego will allow letting Summanen anywhere near the Liitto? Doubly so, if he turns out to be Urheilulehti's coveted anonymous source in the recent weedgate.
I'll allow myself to get excited once we have a contract.
But should that never come to pass, it still ought to be a fun field day in the media.
edd1e
Registered User
Emppu
Registered User
He could get some consideration, but we already have quite many underagers who are certain to make the team. He would be the same age as Barkov was in his first WJC, meaning three years younger than the oldest age group. A 3rd line role is a possibility for Saarela, but there's still a long way to go.
Once again, '95 borns will be exempt from U18 games, so they're not actually underagers. Unless you meant there's a ton of '96 borns who will be shoo-ins. Please inform me of their presence as well.
And what comes to those '95 borns, we have three who will be locked for top-six roles if healthy, along with two '94s. All remaining eight forward slots will be completely up for grabs.
But still, I agree with your assessment considering Saarela. Might be too soon, given how he's not particularly big either.
With current pace of development Saarela will be a SM-liiga regular next season, so if all goes well WJC's could be a possibility. Saarela looks to already have equal or better tools for puck battles than Haapala, Mustonen or Tanus for example, so age and lack of height probably isn't a decisive factor in his case.
Roster to the first test camp
Goalies:
Janne Juvonen, Pelicans
Joonas Korpisalo, Jokerit
Juuse Saros, HPK
Oskari Setänen, Lukko
Defensemen:
Julius Honka, JYP
Mika Ilvonen, Blues
Jimi Kuronen, Lukko
Mikko Lehtonen, TPS
Esa Lindell, Jokerit
Atte Mäkinen, Tappara
Olli Määttä, London Knights
Ville Pokka, Kärpät
Rasmus Ristolainen, TPS
Santeri Saari, Jokerit
Niklas Tikkinen, Blues
Juuso Vainio, HPK
Forwards:
Henrik Haapala, Tappara
Henri Ikonen, Kingston
Juuso Ikonen, Blues
Kasperi Kapanen, KalPa
Rasmus Kulmala, TPS
Artturi Lehkonen, KalPa
Ville Leskinen, Kärpät
Samu Markkula, JYP
Aleksi Mustonen, Jokerit
Saku Mäenalainen, Kärpät
Joni Nikko, Lukko
Topi Nättinen, JYP
Niko Ojamäki, Ässät
Otto Rauhala, Tappara
Saku Salminen, Jokerit
Teuvo Teräväinen, Jokerit
Mikko Virtanen, KooKoo
A bit surprised that Ilvonen and Kuronen were invited. They can move the puck quite well, but will they have the tools to battle successfully against stronger opponents at U20 level? Honka might possibly have slight problems in this regard as well, but at least his overall talent level compensates for it.
Some of the playeres not invited include:
GK - Henri Kiviaho
GK - Ville Husso
----------------
D - Mikko Vainonen
D - Alex Lintuniemi
D - Victor Westermarck
D - Aleksi Mäkelä
----------------
F - Aleksander Barkov (injury)
F - Aleksi Saarela
F - Mikko Rantanen
F - Jonatan Tanus
F - Aleksi Rutanen
F - Jesse Paukku
F - Joonas Huovinen
F - Jasper Lindsten
F - Joose Antonen
Goalies:
Janne Juvonen, Pelicans
Joonas Korpisalo, Jokerit
Juuse Saros, HPK
Oskari Setänen, Lukko
Defensemen:
Julius Honka, JYP
Mika Ilvonen, Blues
Jimi Kuronen, Lukko
Mikko Lehtonen, TPS
Esa Lindell, Jokerit
Atte Mäkinen, Tappara
Olli Määttä, London Knights
Ville Pokka, Kärpät
Rasmus Ristolainen, TPS
Santeri Saari, Jokerit
Niklas Tikkinen, Blues
Juuso Vainio, HPK
Forwards:
Henrik Haapala, Tappara
Henri Ikonen, Kingston
Juuso Ikonen, Blues
Kasperi Kapanen, KalPa
Rasmus Kulmala, TPS
Artturi Lehkonen, KalPa
Ville Leskinen, Kärpät
Samu Markkula, JYP
Aleksi Mustonen, Jokerit
Saku Mäenalainen, Kärpät
Joni Nikko, Lukko
Topi Nättinen, JYP
Niko Ojamäki, Ässät
Otto Rauhala, Tappara
Saku Salminen, Jokerit
Teuvo Teräväinen, Jokerit
Mikko Virtanen, KooKoo
A bit surprised that Ilvonen and Kuronen were invited. They can move the puck quite well, but will they have the tools to battle successfully against stronger opponents at U20 level? Honka might possibly have slight problems in this regard as well, but at least his overall talent level compensates for it.
Some of the playeres not invited include:
GK - Henri Kiviaho
GK - Ville Husso
----------------
D - Mikko Vainonen
D - Alex Lintuniemi
D - Victor Westermarck
D - Aleksi Mäkelä
----------------
F - Aleksander Barkov (injury)
F - Aleksi Saarela
F - Mikko Rantanen
F - Jonatan Tanus
F - Aleksi Rutanen
F - Jesse Paukku
F - Joonas Huovinen
F - Jasper Lindsten
F - Joose Antonen
Another round of lottery just for fun:
Aleksi Saarela (97) - Teuvo Teräväinen (94) - Artturi Lehkonen (95)
Henri Ikonen (94) - Aleksander Barkov (95) - Kasperi Kapanen (96)
Saku Mäenalanen (94) - Aleksi Mustonen (95) - Juuso Ikonen (95)
Henrik Haapala (94) - Saku Salminen (94) - Ville Leskinen (94)
Mikko Rantanen (96)
Olli Määttä (94) - Rasmus Ristolainen (94)
Niklas Tikkinen (94) - Ville Pokka (94)
Mikko Vainonen (94) - Juuso Vainio (94)
Alex Lintuniemi (95)
Juuse Saros (95)
Oskari Setänen (94)
Joonas Korpisalo (94)
I'm obviously counting on Saarela, Kapanen and Rantanen to develop nicely.
Other options:
Jonatan Tanus (95) - Rasmus Kulmala (94) - Joni Nikko (94)
Aleksi Rutanen (94) - Topi Nättinen (94) - Niko Ojamäki (95)
Samu Markkula (94) - Otto Rauhala (95) - Jesse Paukku (94)
Jasper Lindsten (94) - Mikko Virtanen (94) - Joonas Huovinen (94)
Joose Antonen (95)
Esa Lindell (94) - Julius Honka (95)
Mikko Lehtonen (94) - Victor Westermarck (94)
Santeri Saari (94) - Atte Mäkinen (95)
Aleksi Mäkelä (95)
Janne Juvonen (94)
Henri Kiviaho (94)
Ville Husso (95)
Aleksi Saarela (97) - Teuvo Teräväinen (94) - Artturi Lehkonen (95)
Henri Ikonen (94) - Aleksander Barkov (95) - Kasperi Kapanen (96)
Saku Mäenalanen (94) - Aleksi Mustonen (95) - Juuso Ikonen (95)
Henrik Haapala (94) - Saku Salminen (94) - Ville Leskinen (94)
Mikko Rantanen (96)
Olli Määttä (94) - Rasmus Ristolainen (94)
Niklas Tikkinen (94) - Ville Pokka (94)
Mikko Vainonen (94) - Juuso Vainio (94)
Alex Lintuniemi (95)
Juuse Saros (95)
Oskari Setänen (94)
Joonas Korpisalo (94)
I'm obviously counting on Saarela, Kapanen and Rantanen to develop nicely.
Other options:
Jonatan Tanus (95) - Rasmus Kulmala (94) - Joni Nikko (94)
Aleksi Rutanen (94) - Topi Nättinen (94) - Niko Ojamäki (95)
Samu Markkula (94) - Otto Rauhala (95) - Jesse Paukku (94)
Jasper Lindsten (94) - Mikko Virtanen (94) - Joonas Huovinen (94)
Joose Antonen (95)
Esa Lindell (94) - Julius Honka (95)
Mikko Lehtonen (94) - Victor Westermarck (94)
Santeri Saari (94) - Atte Mäkinen (95)
Aleksi Mäkelä (95)
Janne Juvonen (94)
Henri Kiviaho (94)
Ville Husso (95)
Thats pretty deep and experienced defence. 94's might be best generation ever at D so far?
I like the D a lot and I think there's a fair chance Saros can be the starter on this level unless Korpisalo improves a lot from what he showed in this year's tournament.
However, that 1st line is a little concerning. It's got three good skaters for sure, but they're also small and Saarela is very young for this tournament and could use a role with less responsibility at this point. His good physical development compared to other players his age can mean he's ready even at this age, but I'd still be a bit iffy on putting him on the 1st line even if he develops well.
Then there's also the question of Teräväinen's centering skills. We'll have to see what Jokerit decide to do with him and if the results are better than last season, but I think Barkov would have to be the center with the most TOI in this scenario.
if we bring all the midgets
Teräväinen-Barkov-Haapala
J.Ikonen-Mustonen-Lehkonen
H.Ikonen-Saarela-Kapanen
Tanus-Salminen-Mäenalainen
Rantanen
Määttä-Ristolainen
Tikkinen-Pokka
Vainonen-Honka
Vainio
Juuse Saros (95)
Oskari Setänen (94)
Joonas Korpisalo (94)
if not
Lehkonen-Barkov-Saarela
Rantanen-Teräväinen-J.Ikonen
Leskinen/Tanus-H.Ikonen-Kapanen
Nikko-Salminen-Mäenalanen
Mustonen
Määttä-Ristolainen
Tikkinen-Pokka
Vainonen-Mäkinen
Vainio/Lintuniemi
Juuse Saros (95)
Oskari Setänen (94)
Joonas Korpisalo (94)
Teräväinen-Barkov-Haapala
J.Ikonen-Mustonen-Lehkonen
H.Ikonen-Saarela-Kapanen
Tanus-Salminen-Mäenalainen
Rantanen
Määttä-Ristolainen
Tikkinen-Pokka
Vainonen-Honka
Vainio
Juuse Saros (95)
Oskari Setänen (94)
Joonas Korpisalo (94)
if not
Lehkonen-Barkov-Saarela
Rantanen-Teräväinen-J.Ikonen
Leskinen/Tanus-H.Ikonen-Kapanen
Nikko-Salminen-Mäenalanen
Mustonen
Määttä-Ristolainen
Tikkinen-Pokka
Vainonen-Mäkinen
Vainio/Lintuniemi
Juuse Saros (95)
Oskari Setänen (94)
Joonas Korpisalo (94)
If all guys are available it should be the best Finnish D-group at the WJC's in recent history. Long term success of this generation might largely depend on what kind of careers Ristolainen, Määttä and Pokka end-up having.
My personal guess is that Saros is the front-runner at this point, but who knows how the situation develops. Also, how much ice-time(=games) these guys get at men's level isn't always that easy to predict. Oskari Setänen has been fairly good with the U19 national team lately, interesting to see how many games he gets with Lukko's SM-liiga team next season.
From the looks of it Saarela is physically more developed in some areas than many 95-born players, he looks stronger and sturdier than Lehkonen for example. He has the skill-set to be a top-6 forward, so the rest should depend on his development and how much ice time he gets in SM-liiga (=experience from tough games) before next December. Anyhow, putting him on the 1st line is optimistic for sure, I admit that.
If available, Barkov will certainly play in all situations and amass a lot of ice time. As far as Teräväinen goes, I'm quite confident he'll do a pretty good job playing C at the WJC’s, or at least equal job to what Markus Granlund did this year. Barkov and Teräväinen are the only forwards we have with proper SM-liiga experience of playing C in a top-6 role, so as of now options don’t seem plentiful in this department.
edd1e
Registered User
Nice to see good depth in all departments.. Lots of options for Karri Kivi and i'm quite sure he will make the best of it.
Defense looks like it has the best depth, but there's a lot of quality forwards on those two teams also.
There's a possibility for 3 players to miss WJC (in my books) because of the NHL and they are: Barkov, Määttä and Ristolainen. Also VERY slim change that Teräväinen or Pokka might be unavailable for the same reason.
All in all we'll have a good year coming.
I was browsing the first issue of a new Finnish hockey magazine "Lämäri". Ristolainen was interviewed and he made a comment that if drafted and offered a contract, he will cross the pond immediately for next season.
... I guess there's a decent chance that he won't be available for the WJC's.
... I guess there's a decent chance that he won't be available for the WJC's.
I don't know how I've managed to miss this until now, but Ari Sulander will be doing the goalie coaching for the U20s next season. 
http://www.leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet...kana-nuorten-leijonien-valmennusryhmassa.html
http://www.leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet...kana-nuorten-leijonien-valmennusryhmassa.html
Incidentally, Barkov recently said the same in Iltasanomat.
...and finally, what if Määttä takes the next step as well?
Well, at least it would be a sign that we finally have some good NHL prospects.
Something positive in everything, I guess.
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How is his chances to crack into NHL-roster next year? I know that it depends on a team but if we take flyers as example? There is strong rumours that flyers are high on him. Flyers are known for giving chances to their prospects and Kimmo Timonen could be great mentor for him. Might fit perfectly on that team.
If these career moves help bolster our ranks overseas, I'd call that a far more important thing for Finnish hockey than having them available for a single WJC tournament.
Too bad that Määttä is a Pens prospect and they've shown no signs of letting him go.
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