2016 World Juniors: Team Finland Built for Excitement

2016 World Juniors: Team Finland Built for Excitement

Among teams competing in the 2016 World Junior Championships, Team Finland might not have well-known prospects, but their roster is full of young exciting talent from the crease to center ice.

When the 2016 World Juniors arrives in Helsinki, Finland, many will recognize the big names on Team Canada and Team USA like Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, or maybe even William Nylander on Team Sweden. However, the host country contains some very exciting prospects of their own.

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Starting at the very back-end for the Finns is Minnesota Wild prospect Kaapo Käkhönen. His style of play is not exactly exciting. He plays a very cool, calm and collected kind of game. He is used to a large number of reps, having 47 game and 38 game seasons under his belt while playing for Liiga’s Espoo Blues and their U20 junior team.

His composure aids him by making tough saves look fairly easy which, for some people, can be exciting. His size is also a big factor in his game. At 6’1″ and 201 lbs, he doesn’t need to move around in the crease as much as the average goaltender.

Moving to the blueline, two young, fast and skilled defensemen stand out on the preliminary roster for Team Finland. Detroit 2015 3rd rounder Villi Saarijärvi and 2016 NHL Draft prospect Olli Juolevi. Saarijärvi is rather small at 5’10” and 165 lbs, but he packs an offensive bite. His passing skills and ability to move the puck with ease in the offensive zone coalesce to

Saarijärvi is rather small at 5’10” and 165 lbs, but he packs an offensive bite. His passing skills and ability to move the puck with ease in the offensive zone coalesce to provide a strong offensive zone presence for the attacking team. He is better with the puck than he is without it. He makes smart decisions in his own zone while breaking out, but his gap control can be hit or miss at times; however, this can make for exciting, high scoring hockey.

Olli Juolevi #4 of the London Knights defends in an OHL game against the Hamilton Bulldogs at Budweiser Gardens on September 25, 2015 in London, Ontario, Canada. The Knights defeated the Bulldogs 5-3.

Sept. 24, 2015 – Source: Claus Andersen/Getty Images North America

Olli Juolevi plays more of a two-way game than Saarijävi. His defensive zone coverage is very good and like Saarijärvi, he moves the puck in and out of his own zone very well. He has mostly been ranked inside the top 10 from scouting services and independent scouting. A great tournament from Juolevi could cement him into the top 10 in the upcoming draft in Buffalo, NY.

At the forward position is where Finland will impact the most this year in Helsinki. Their scoring threats can be found all over the top 6.

There are the prospects that everybody will notice and know from the start. Kasperi Kapanen, Mikko Rantanen, Jesse Puljujärvi, and Patrik Laine. Kapanen being loaned from the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche, Puljujärvi from Kärpät of Liiga and Laine from Tappara.

The group has many things in common. All four are either former 1st round picks or in Puljujärvi and Laine’s case, future 1st round picks with both wingers being eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft.  They all are big bodied forwards that have exceptional hands which bring incredible scoring chances for their respective teams.

There is still forwards that could bring a good portion of production to Team Finland being overlooked. Sebastian Aho, Roope Hintz, Juho Lammikko, Julius Nättinen and Aleksi Saarela will be looked at for depth goal scoring, which a key part of each of their games.

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Aho, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect, comes at opponents with all he has. Forces turnovers and converts on mistakes by defenders. Hintz is a Daniel Sprong type prospect. Makes plays in the offensive zone with great playmaking ability and his hands. He is Dallas Stars property.

Julius Nättinen of the Anaheim Ducks has been very good with the Barrie Colts of the OHL this year. He takes face-offs, plays the game well at both ends of the ice and can put the puck in the back of the net to boot.

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New York Rangers prospect Aleksi Saarela is very fast and uses his speed in the transitional game to create chances for his team.

Owen MacDonald #11 of the London Knights takes a faceoff against Juho Lammikko #82 of the Kingston Frontenacs during an OHL game at Budweiser Gardens on September 26, 2015 in London,Ontario,Canada.

(Sept. 25, 2015 – Source: Claus Andersen/Getty Images North America)

Juho Lammikko, a Florida Panthers prospect, could have a breakout tournament if all goes well for him. He has been part of a dynamic duo alongside Spencer Watson, of Team Canada, with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. Lammikko trails Watson by four points for the team lead.

If Lammikko can prove he does not need to rely on Watson in order to produce, he will be bringing much more followers on his way to the NHL.

Team Finland all around will be very fun to watch come Christmas time. Their balance makes them a serious team to consider making it to the gold medal round.