Team Finland right now

[Eye of Ra]

What would the strongest possible team Finland look like right now ? My take on it :

Rinne
Saros
Rask

Heiskanen - Ristolainen
Nutivaara - Vatanen
Lindell - Määttä
Jokiharju

Teräväinen - Aho - Rantanen
Laine - Barkov - Granlund
Kapanen - Koivu - Filppula
Donskoi - Haula - Lehkonen
Armia


Holy shit they are strong . I think this is enough to win gold in a best on best tournament....?

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[DFAC]

They have great top end talent but their depth on the backend or on their 3rd and 4th lines do not compare to Canada/USA

 

[jj cale]

This is the best and most talented lineup Finland has ever been able to put forward in a best on best tournament imo, this is a dangerous team capable of winning it all.

I don't know what Finland has been doing lately in their hockey program from the ground up but whatever it is it's working big time. I would be going in very concerned against this team in a one game winner take all affair, very concerned.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Raanta is one of the best goalies in the NHL, and the best Finnish goalie.

 

[LeafChief]

The depth is quite weak relative to the other top national squads.

The Finnish program has come a long way though and you cannot deny that they have some very high end talent.

 

[mw2noobbuster]

Not even close.

 

[mattihp]

A big defensively skilled defenseman is needed. And Ristolainen might be looking to play with USA to be honest..

 

[ikzu]

Let those players develop for a few years and then add Välimäki, Vaakanainen, Juolevi, Tolvanen, Vesalainen, Kotkaniemi, Borgström, Kakko, Puljujärvi, Hintz, Heponiemi?, Lundell?, Kupari?, Kokkonen? etc. etc.

Best finnish hockey generation ever by far.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

A big defensively skilled defenseman is needed. And Ristolainen might be looking to play with USA to be honest..

Esa Lindell is big and skilled.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Let those players develop for a few years and then add Välimäki, Vaakanainen, Juolevi, Tolvanen, Vesalainen, Kotkaniemi, Borgström, Kakko, Puljujärvi, Hintz, Heponiemi?, Lundell?, Kupari?, Kokkonen? etc. etc.

Best finnish hockey generation ever by far.

For sure. No more Aki Berg or Hagman on the line up.

 

[Backcheckmonster3]

Making balanced lines and saying right now then not including injured players, i´d say:

Lehkonen-Barkov-Kapanen
Teräväinen-Aho-Rantanen
Laine-Koivu-Granlund
Kotkaniemi-Filppula-Komarov

Heiskanen-Ristolainen
Lindell-Vatanen
Nutivaara-Jokiharju

Rinne
Rask

 

[mattihp]

Esa Lindell is big and skilled.

He is more of an allrounder. And still a ways to go.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

C: Aaltonen, Aho, Barkov, Borgström, Granlund, Kupari, Kuokkanen, Haula, Hintz, Lammikko, Lundell, Suomela (Filppula,Koivu, Ruohomaa)

W: Donskoi, Granlund, Heponiemi, Kapanen, Kakko, Killinen, Laine, Lehkonen, Nordgren, Puljujärvi, Rantanen,
Ruotsalainen, Teräväinen, Tolvanen, Tuulola, Vesalainen, Ylönen (Hartikainen, Manninen, Joensuu, Komarov, Puustinen)

D: Anttalainen, Hakanpää, Heiskanen, Honka, Honka, Jokiharju, Kaski, Kokkonen, Laaksonen, Lindell, Määttä, Nutivaara,
Riikola, Ristolainen, Räsänen, Thomson, Utunen, Vaakanainen, Vatanen, Välimäki (Jokipakka, Lajunen, Lepistö)

G: Korpisalo, Koskinen, Kähkönen, Luukkonen, Raanta, Rask, Rinne, Saros, Vehviläinen (Metsola, Niemi)

= 59 players (+13 other players)

In few short years Finland will have loads of depth to pick up from an A level National team, a team that is favorite to win every time.

 

[jj cale]

C: Aaltonen, Aho, Barkov, Borgström, Granlund, Kupari, Kuokkanen, Haula, Hintz, Lammikko, Lundell, Suomela (Filppula,Koivu, Ruohomaa)

W: Donskoi, Granlund, Heponiemi, Kapanen, Kakko, Killinen, Laine, Lehkonen, Nordgren, Puljujärvi, Rantanen,
Ruotsalainen, Teräväinen, Tolvanen, Tuulola, Vesalainen, Ylönen (Hartikainen, Manninen, Joensuu, Komarov, Puustinen)

D: Anttalainen, Hakanpää, Heiskanen, Honka, Honka, Jokiharju, Kaski, Kokkonen, Laaksonen, Lindell, Määttä, Nutivaara,
Riikola, Ristolainen, Räsänen, Thomson, Utunen, Vaakanainen, Vatanen, Välimäki (Jokipakka, Lajunen, Lepistö)

G: Korpisalo, Koskinen, Kähkönen, Luukkonen, Raanta, Rask, Rinne, Saros, Vehviläinen (Metsola, Niemi)

= 59 players (+13 other players)

In few short years Finland will have loads of depth to pick up from an A level National team, a team that is favorite to win every time.

A team that is ONE of the favourites to win every year, not THE favourite.

Canada,Sweden,U.S, maybe even Russia if the defensemen finally come along.......................they will all be loaded too as I am sure you must know.

 

[IceHockeyDude]

The top 2 lines are on par with Canada and USA. But after that the quality decreases too much. This could be solved in 1-2 years with Kotka and Kakko. Also Tolvanen, Vesalainen, Borgström are all potential top 6 forwards. Future looks so great.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if we win all 3 this season; WC, WJC, u18 WJC.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Teräväinen-Aho-Rantanen
Kapanen-Koivu-Mi.Granlund
Laine-Barkov-Haula
Lehkonen-Filppula-Donskoi
Armia

Nutivaara-Ristolainen
Heiskanen-Lindell
Määttä-Vatanen

Rinne
Raanta
Rask

 

[jj cale]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if we win all 3 this season; WC, WJC, u18 WJC.

I would be shocked if they did, that's a tall order for anybody.

Finlands real good now but still not strong enough to pull that off imo.

 

[illone84]

I would be shocked if they did, that's a tall order for anybody.

Finlands real good now but still not strong enough to pull that off imo.

2016 was super close, but no cigar!

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Give it 2-3 years and Finland will have the best roster they ever had and its not going to be even close.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

Their defence needs a lot of work.

 

[jj cale]

2016 was super close, but no cigar!

True enough, had forgotten about that.

That trifecta is tough to do, good luck!!

 

[illone84]

True enough, had forgotten about that.

That trifecta is tough to do, good luck!!

Of course it's tough to do! No country has even done it! LOL

 

[BL92]

Their defence needs a lot of work.

It'll get better in a couple of years time due to prospects like Jokiharju, Välimäki, Niku, Juolevi and Vaakanainen.

 

[jj cale]

Of course it's tough to do! No country has even done it! LOL

Indeed, thats why I said I wouldn't just be surprised but shocked.

Hopefully Canada does it this year, would be nice.