The question of Patrik Laine’s World Cup condition made the leaders of the Lions silent – this is how the situation of Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen will be resolved

The players of the Finnish men’s national ice hockey team gathered at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in a happy mood. Ahead would be the last matches before the World Cup starting next week on Friday. The players greeted each other with a smile. Upper femmes, handshakes, hugs and other warm greetings. Some of the strangers introduced each other.

However, one player was conspicuous by his absence. The Ice Hockey Association sent a statement on Monday afternoon that Patrick Laine misses the Czech EHT tournament.

According to the release, Laine is currently not fit to play, and therefore cannot participate in the EHT games.

Lions head coach Jukka Jalonen and GM Jere Lehtinen were silent about Laine’s playing condition. When asked about Laine’s playing condition, both referred to the Jääkieksliito’s press release.

Are the World Cups under threat?

– Hard to say. Maybe it is. Maybe not. In a week we will know a little better, Jalonen formulated.

– We’ll see how the week goes. Can’t say anything more. We are wiser at the weekend, Lehtinen stated.

Laine has last played a month and a half ago in the ranks of his NHL club Columbus Blue Jackets. Laine injured his extensor muscle during training at the end of March.

Of the Finnish NHL players, Montreal went to the Czech tournament Joel Armia and Detroit Olli Määttä. joined from AHL Sakari Manninen. The Lions will face the Czech Republic on Thursday, Switzerland on Saturday and Sweden on Sunday.

Määttä, who played a strong season, was last in the Lions’ jersey at the 2021 World Championships. At that time, Latvia won silver.

– Last time it was incredibly cool. Kulta caught the little one last. However, I had great memories from that tournament. It’s cool to come here to play with this style of play and also because of what kind of team this is, Määttä describes.

The Jyväskylä-born defender now also gets to play in front of the home crowd after a long time. Maäät can’t even remember the last time he played in Finland.

Määtta hopes that Laine will recover for the World Championships.

– He is a big player. We need them. If he is fit, Patrik will be a big part of the team. You don’t find very many such good scorers, Määttä praises.

The crazy night in the NHL was amazing

The NHL playoffs saw some dramatic moments in Finland last night. Seattle sent the reigning champion to Colorado on summer break. Florida did the same trick to Boston, who had a winning record in the regular season.

Lehtinen previewed last night’s results.

– Probably no one believed that the games would end like that. I didn’t believe it either. The first round is always interesting. Surprises always happen, Lehtinen fumed.

Jalonen has also followed exciting playoff matches.

– These were tough things. Especially when Florida came from a 1-3 deficit and beat Boston three times. Two of the wins came away from home. It was a great performance from Florida. One can only raise one’s hat, Jalonen comments.

– Colorado’s season has been difficult. A lot of injuries and other difficulties. It was no surprise that the gameplay was a bit choppy. Seattle plays great hockey and team play. The game has a very good structure. It was no accident that Seattle beat Colorado four times.

Will Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen play in the World Cup?

For the lions, the situation is also interesting, because Colorado could release two high-caliber players for the World Cup: Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen.

However, Rantase has quite a strain under him. He played an 82-game regular season for the first time in the season that ended his career. Of all the NHL forwards, only Edmonton’s superstar got more playing time Connor McDavid.

Artturi Lehkonen, on the other hand, returned to the strength of Colorado just before the end of the regular season after he had undergone surgery for a broken finger.

Both Jalonen and Lehtinen admit that Leijonie’s management has had thoughts of including the band in Colorado’s duo. According to Jalonen, players who have dropped out of the NHL must be contacted quickly so that the players know of interest in Leijon. The decision to play is made quickly and then we move on, whether the answer is yes or no.

Jalonen says that Lehtinen has the responsibility to contact the NHL players. According to Lehtinen, he has not yet been in contact with Finns in Colorado.

Lehtinen plans to be in contact with the duo, as long as Leijonat has arrived in the Czech Republic on Monday.

– Let’s let them take oxygen. That was a big disappointment for them. Let’s go today. Let’s talk then. I have to remember that they also had a pretty long season last year. Of course they are top players. It would be nice to have them. However, let’s look at the situation calmly, Lehtinen stated.

It goes without saying that Rantanen and Lehkonen would be great reinforcements for Leijon.

– When we talk about top players, we are always interested. However, two parties are needed to tango. The player must be interested, motivated and healthy to come. Let’s see what the future brings, Jalonen says.

– Everyone knows that they played a big role in the championship team last season and also played a big role this year when Colorado had a lot of injuries. They are top players and top teammates, Lehtinen describes.

Määtta also offered a player’s view of Rantanen and Lehkonen’s situation.

– It would be great to get the guys involved, but that’s their decision. It depends on how the body feels. There are definitely some ghosts anyway. I hope the guys will come, but if they don’t, everyone will understand that, Määtta stated.

Three-time world champion coach Jalonen states that in the last national team games before the World Cup, chain formations must be found little by little. Special situation play and five-man play should also be improved.
Jalose has a straightforward view of his team in the Czech Republic.

– We have a good group on our feet. We could start the World Championships with this team, Jalonen sums up.