Mikael Granlund jumps directly to the World Cup. Ismo Lehkonen tells why Jesse Puljujärvi is required to provide additional evidence.
There was positive news about the Finnish men’s national ice hockey team over the weekend, when Leijonat told the NHL players by Mikael Granlund and Jesse Puljujärvi related to the strength of the Czech national team preparing for the World Cup.
On Monday, on the other hand, information came that also Olli Määttä strengthens the MM group. The Detroit Red Wings kit has been an important part of the Lions’ World Cup team in 2021 and 2023. Määttä, who turns 30 in August, has lifted the Stanley Cup twice in his career.
The 32-year-old Granlund, who played a peak season, will only join the team just before the World Cup. Sidelined for several games due to injury at the start of the season, the San Jose Sharks center forward scored 69 points in 60 games.
While Granlund is an obvious choice for the games, Puljujärvi, who plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins, has to give additional proof. He is participating in the Czech EHT tournament.
Puljujärvi, who once dazzled in the youth World Cup, has played at the adult World Cup level once, in 2017.
Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen doesn’t see anything surprising in the fact that Puljujärvi has to give additional performances for a place in the World Cup, despite its NHL status. Lehkonen reminds that Puljujärvi, who underwent hip surgery in the summer, was sidelined from the games for a long time.
In his case, getting a feel for the game and giving additional screens is logical.
– There was very little playing time in Pittsburgh after the rehabilitation. However, I welcome him with pleasure. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of condition he’ll be in in the national team games, enthuses Lehkonen.
Lehkonen adds that very few games have accumulated in Puljujärvi during the past year.
– Puljujärvi understands that he has to give good displays of his current condition For Jukka Jalose to fit into the team. In the case of hip operations, there is talk of a break of up to a year. I appreciate that he has been able to get himself in such good shape in such a short time.