NHL aids to the lions for the World Cup 2022? Jere Lehtinen answers

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

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