If the Lions receive NHL aid for the Tampere World Cup, the frame would be worthwhile if it allows Dallas to be built around Finnish players, writes Tommi Seppälä, NH Sport’s journalist for Urheil.
If the NHL Regular Series ended today, the Lions’ coaching team would be in a delicious situation with regard to possible NHL aids for the home competitions in Tampere. Thirty Finns are currently left out of the playoffs.
While home matches are expected to spark a stronger-than-usual interest in the World Cup in NHL players, players playing for the final year of their contract should not be involved in speculation. A serious injury in Tampere could have a decisive impact on the next NHL deal.
Of the players without a contract, the Lions GM Jere Lehtinen and head coach Jukka Jalonen would certainly be of particular interest through Columbus About Patrik Laine as well as Montreal Artturi Lehkonen. Each of the two plays through the most effective season of their NHL careers.
All potential goalkeeper assistants will also play for their final contract period. Joonas Korpisalo, Kevin Lankinen mixed Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will almost certainly be left out of the playoffs, but none of them have a contract for the upcoming season. So the goalkeepers of the lions come from Europe.
In general, it is important to remember that the NHL has never been obsessed with Jukka Jalonen at the World Cup. Coaching management is happy to choose quality and motivated help from bucks, but NHL status itself means nothing to coaching.
In addition, Jalonen has also traditionally trusted players he somehow already knows. Quality replaces quantity in Jalonen’s papers.
The body of the lions should be built around the Finnish players in Dallas if the Stars pop out of the big dance of the NHL spring. In addition to the Dallas quartet, Lehtinen and Jalonen should aim for a few specific acquisitions from other clubs.
However, let’s start with Dallas.
If the players have enough health and motivation, the Lions would get an incredible amount of excellence from Texas in various areas. Roope Hintz would be Finland’s number one center, Miro Heiskanen first defender and Esa Lindell the team’s main defensive defender. Sweeper Jani Hakanpää no opponent would want to read in front of the goal.
A really high-quality core would be built around this quartet.
In addition to Heiskanen, Lindell and Hakanpää, the defense equipment could be strengthened in Philadelphia Rasmus at Ristolainen, who showed interest in the home race last week in an interview with Sport. From Europe, Lions could strengthen their defenses Sami Vatasen and Mikko Lehtonen such as top individuals.
If Buffalo were added to the hex Henri Jokiharju as well as a national team anchor Atte OhtamaaFinland would have a huge amount of both discipline expertise and the rigidity and toughness needed in the defense game of the defense area.
For the attack, I would choose Montreal from North America Joel Armian as well as Vancouver Juho Lammikon.
Pond is a multi-purpose power striker familiar to Jonen from the 2019 World Cup gold team. The Pori striker has made a small breakthrough in Vancouver this season, playing the best hockey of his career as a highly mobile bottom striker.
The Army, with its injuries and corona infections, is having a difficult season underneath, but gaming has gone for the better in recent weeks. The Army is able to play with superiority, underpowering and reliably in virtually any situation. So he’s kind of done with Jalonen’s way of playing.
Pond and Army are not star-class attackers, but apart from Hintz, there are no others available. While thinking about how Jalonen wants the lion herd to play and the values around which the activity is built, the Pori duo fits the team like a nose to the head.
Joonas Donskoi could also be a good addition to the Lion, but the Raahe striker has been through the most difficult period of his career, both personally and at the team level. Whether an assailant who received family support just a few months ago after the season bangs and wants to go to the World Cup is a big mystery.
Around the Dallas Quartet, Ristolainen, Jokiharju and a couple of people from Pori, an extremely high-quality World Cup team would be built, with quality replacing the number of NHL aids.
Finland is already one of the strongest favorites in its home tournament in advance, but if the above-mentioned reinforcements catch the wounds of the coaching leadership, it may be difficult to knock down Lion in Tampere.