Here is Finland’s superb message before the World Cup:
Big star Mikko Rantanen now joins.
– A world-class reinforcement, says general manager Jere Lehtinen.
In Sweden, several NHL Swedes have agreed to play in the WC. But the really big stars are unfortunately missing. It initially sounded positive about Elias Pettersson and Erik Karlsson, who both had over 100 points in the NHL this season, but in the end neither of them could solve.
The big star ready
It is different in Finland, which enters the WC with one of the world’s best players in the squad. Yesterday came a dream message which suddenly means that Finland sails up as one of the big gold favorites in the tournament, which is played in Finland in particular, as well as in Latvia.
When the tournament starts on May 12, Mikko Rantanen, who last year won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche, will be there.
– Mikko has won a lot. The fact that he still wants to come to the home WC, to help the Lions in the hunt for a second straight WC gold, is fine, says general manager Jere Lehtinen according to EPN.
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“World Class”
Mikko Rantanen is coming off a season in which he scored an unparalleled 55 goals and 50 assists, totaling 105 points. In the playoffs, where the Avalanche went out of the first round in the seventh and deciding game against the Seattle Kraken, there were another ten points.
– A world-class reinforcement, says Lehtinen.
A few hours before Rantanen’s announcement, Finland could also announce that New York Rangers’ super talent Kaapo Kakko is World Cup-ready, and previously NHL players such as Joel Armia and Kasperi Kapanen have also accepted. Finland is still hoping for further star reinforcement in the form of Patrik Laine, but he is currently injured and is forced to wait for an answer.
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