The seven-matched Swedish finals and a very steady first round of the NHL playoffs complicate the selection of the Lions World Cup team. The situation in Nashville’s Mikael Granlund and Eeli Tolvanen will soon be resolved.
Pictured is GM Jere Lehtinen of the A national team. Jaakko Stenroos / AOP
Lions GM Jere Lehtinen was not yet able to tell the news on Tuesday night in Tampere whether Nashville will join Mikael Granlundin To the World Championship of Lions.
– There are medical check-ups and meetings ahead. Information must be received at the latest this day or tomorrow, Lehtinen says.
The Predators in the NHL bundle also played Eeli Tolvanen. Keeper Hair Saros was on sick leave.
The Lions’ lead has been hampered by the Swedish final series, which has stretched to seven matches, as well as very even matches in the opening round of the NHL playoffs.
– The Swedish series has been followed. No decisions have yet been made as to whether anyone would come here. It’s challenging, at least for Friday’s World Cup opening game.
Luleå and Färjestad will face off in the seventh final on Thursday. The first match of the lions at the World Championships will be on Friday at 8.20 pm.
Sami Lepistö, Julius Honka, Juhani Tyrväinen, Joonas Rask and Olli Nikupeteri fighting for the championship in the ranks of Luleå. In a Färjestad shirt, he is chasing a jug Jesse Virtanen.
Stamping on Thursday
Mikael Granlund’s NHL season is over. AOP
As many as six of the eight pairs in the NHL playoff round are in a situation of 2 to 2. “Finnish teams” Florida, Dallas and Carolina are among them.
– It is also still under consideration whether the first round is expected to be completed. The games go by force at least on Thursdays or Fridays until they are over, Lehtinen says.
In the 2019 and 2021 World Championships, the Lions team was cemented before even the first tournament match.
– The big picture is when the NHL players missed the Olympics, the interest in the national team is strong. In the spring, when we have been in contact with certain players again, it has not changed at all, Lehtinen explains.
– But we do not know if there are injuries and how big a disappointment the fall is. All of these things make an impact, although there has been talk in the past that home racing is of interest, GM continues.
It seems that Finland will not stamp all the race passes before the Norwegian match on Friday. The World Cup crew may have three goalkeepers and 22 field players. In one match the strength of the crew is 2 + 20.
– Before anyone else is here, this team is going to the races. That’s the most important thing about who the players are here. The stamps of the race passes will be added to the opening match on Friday at some point on Thursday. It has not yet been decided how many passports will then be stamped.
The Lion currently has three goalkeepers, eight packs and 15 attackers in Tampere.
FACTS
Lions at the moment
Goalkeepers:
29 Säteri Harri
35 Tuohimaa Frans
45 Olkinuora Jussi
Defenders:
2 Pokka Ville
3 Friman Niklas
4 Lehtonen Mikko
28 Jokiharju Henri
38 Hietanen Juuso
42 Vatanen Sami
50 Seppälä Mikael
55 Ohtamaa Atte
Attackers:
10 Army Joel
12 Anttila Marko
15 Aaltonen Miro
21 Innala Jere
24 Björninen Hannes
25 Rajala Toni
51 Filppula Valtteri
52 Palmu Petrus
61 Markus Nurmi
65 Manninen Sakari
70 Hartikainen Teemu
76 Sallinen Jere
80 Mäenalanen Saku
82 Pesonen Harri
91 Pond Juho