WJC: Team Finland 2019 U20 WJC Roster Talk
- Thread starter ChicagoBullsFan
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ChicagoBullsFan
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Who'll be 2nd line C if / when Ikonen is out of U20 WJC's.
Is it Kupari, Talvitie, Lundell or someone else like Kristian Tanus.
Not much to choose from the center department. After Kotkaniemi, there really isn't any locks for remaining 3 center spots. Kupari, Lundell, Tanus, Virtanen, Maansaari, Petman, Seppälä and Koskenkorva are some options.
Conspiracy Theorist
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ChicagoBullsFan
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How about Henri Nikkanen does he have chances to make U20 WJC team.
Anton Lundell could be dark horse to make this years U20 WJC team but how likely it is.
Lundell hasn't played much practice games in U20 team yet so will Ahokas invite him training camp is another story.
Also Lundell's role in HIFK is open HIFK is still looking 1st line center so hard to see Lundell getting that spot.
He's also 16 yrs old and if he plays in HIFK's liiga team i think Selin wants play him winger.
kelsier
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Lundell could really be a dark horse. He made it to to u18 team last year and was pretty phenomenal all things considered. Excellent two-way game and doesn't lack size. Of course the skating wasn't there yet and it's going to be interesting to see how much he has developed during the summer. There are many good candidates for the team and I would suppose that at least Kotkaniemi and Kupari are pretty much locks at the moment. Anyway anything right now is just speculation. We'll have to see as the season unfolds.
My team based on the 8 U20 matches seen so far
NHL/AHL: Vesalainen,Heiskanen,Tolvanen
Injured: Ikonen
Niklas Nordgren - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Kaapo Kakko
Aleksi Heponiemi - Rasmus Kupari - Jesse Ylönen
Linus Nyman - Otto Kivenmäki - Lauri Pajuniemi
Aarne Talvitie - Santeri Virtanen - Sampo Ranta
Teemu Engberg
Aleksi Anttalainen - Oskari Laaksonen
Urho Vaakanainen - Henri Jokiharju
Eemeli Räsänen - Anttoni Honka
Toni Utunen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Lassi Lehtinen
Justus Annunen
NHL/AHL: Vesalainen,Heiskanen,Tolvanen
Injured: Ikonen
Niklas Nordgren - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Kaapo Kakko
Aleksi Heponiemi - Rasmus Kupari - Jesse Ylönen
Linus Nyman - Otto Kivenmäki - Lauri Pajuniemi
Aarne Talvitie - Santeri Virtanen - Sampo Ranta
Teemu Engberg
Aleksi Anttalainen - Oskari Laaksonen
Urho Vaakanainen - Henri Jokiharju
Eemeli Räsänen - Anttoni Honka
Toni Utunen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Lassi Lehtinen
Justus Annunen
Last edited:
Conspiracy Theorist
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Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
Wouldnt mind seeing him in the team but hasnt played in U20 NT matches this season or ever and wasnt excactly lights out at Hlinka either
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
Kotkaniemi wasn’t lights out at the Hlinka a year ago either and he should’ve made the WJC team. I also think there’s a real need here for another skill guy that plays center. Using Kupari at center is not good for him or the team. Maybe most years Lundell wouldn’t make this roster, but I feel like this year would be a good year to add a wildcard entry to the team like that.
Henri Nikkanen is another guy to consider at center. I think Finland has to include one of the two, otherwise there will be middle six center problems.
ChicagoBullsFan
Registered User
Nikkanen's chances to make Finland's U20 WJC roster are theoretic and odds for that are 0,2- 0,5 %
So don't hold your breath to wait see him U20 WJC's this year.
Lundell might be in the team but it's more than set in stone.
Being very honest only 2001 born Finnish prospect who'll be U20 WJC's this year is Kaapo Kakko
kelsier
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I wouldn't be at all worried about the center depth with Kotkaniemi and Kupari alone right now. Last year it was grave concern with no real first line center and Kuokkanen being the most disappointing forward since... maybe Kasperi Kapanen (and at least even he managed to score a golden goal). That is, when weighted against expectations of course. Nonetheless there are options available and I've specifically mentioned one already. I just hope there are no injuries that force them to pick several times worse replacements. Also who knows, there's always the possibility that someone has taken exceptionally large steps forward in development and we might have some competition even for the C spots if we are lucky.
The WJC is that one annual single tournament I'm most thrilled about, much more so than WHCs or some other events for example. The only ones that come ahead are World Cup and best vs best Olympics I suppose. This could turn out a very good year or at least it can't be much worse than last year.
The WJC is that one annual single tournament I'm most thrilled about, much more so than WHCs or some other events for example. The only ones that come ahead are World Cup and best vs best Olympics I suppose. This could turn out a very good year or at least it can't be much worse than last year.
HockeyHistorian
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My team as of now:
Vesalainen - Kotkaniemi - Ylönen
Heponiemi - Kupari - Kakko
Nyman - Lundell - Nordgren
Koskenkorva - Talvitie - S. Moilanen
Pajuniemi
Vaakanainen - Jokiharju
Salmela - Honka
Utunen - E. Räsänen
Anttalainen
If Vesalainen is in the NHL, add Pajuniemi to the roster and Ranta replaces him as the 13th forward.
Vesalainen - Kotkaniemi - Ylönen
Heponiemi - Kupari - Kakko
Nyman - Lundell - Nordgren
Koskenkorva - Talvitie - S. Moilanen
Pajuniemi
Vaakanainen - Jokiharju
Salmela - Honka
Utunen - E. Räsänen
Anttalainen
If Vesalainen is in the NHL, add Pajuniemi to the roster and Ranta replaces him as the 13th forward.
montreal
Go Habs Go
If Ikonen is back by say December 1st, would that be enough time to make the team or do they just have better options since he would have been out for 6 months and could take a while to get his strength/skating back since it's the knee.
kelsier
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Not a huge fan of Nyman but otherwise I actually like these lines. Basically three capable units that can each push the play and score goals. There should be a good chance of getting Vesalainen since I doubt he's going to break into the Jets roster this year. The second line could be sick based on the showings from the pre-season alone (the chemistry between R.K & A.H and the rise of Kakko), but you really never know until the real games begin. I'd say the odds for competing again this year are good as long as there are no serious injuries. Of course losing Heiskanen is huge and defence could be better but nonetheless.
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
Jokiharju is a big if, Blackhawks are hoping/looking Jokiharju to play this season, there's role for him to take
Vesalainen&Vaakanainen are both ifs
(depends on possible injuries to both Winnipeg&Boston)
It would be awesome if we could get both
Kotkaniemi is obviously going to miss these games,
Montreal simply can't afford him go.
Heponiemi-Kupari-Kakko is our 1st line and it will be one hell of a 1st line
12+ points for all 3 i'm predicting.
I don´t think Vesalainen is ready for the big club this year.... I hope he is though
HockeyHistorian
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I think that only Heiskanen is surely out of the question. Tolvanen, Vesalainen, Kotkaniemi, Jokiharju and Vaakanainen are all ifs.
ChicagoBullsFan
Registered User
Why Ahokas should separate a line which worked well in U18 WJC's.
Keep Nordgren Kotkaniemi Kakko line together ( if Nordgren even makes in the team).
kelsier
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What are you talking about? He's playing for Ässät anyway and I don't think Montreal will mind where he gets experience from, as long as he gets experience.
ChicagoBullsFan
Registered User
I read some speculations of Ikonen in jatkoaika.com discussion board.
There some Kalpa fan mentioned Ikonen could be sidelined so long time that he probably will miss U20 WJC's.
TheGoldenJet
Registered User
Yeah that poster seems a little uninformed. It’s likely that only Heiskanen/Tolvanen miss, and the rest are available to Finland.
theVladiator
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What about Laaksonen on D? Looked very impressive in the summer showcase games. Certainly much better than Honka. Honka's offensive potential might be too much to sacrifice, but I would easily pick Laaksonen over Rasanen.
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