Granlund’s former teammate Ropee index agrees. Both men played part of last season with the Stars as well as during the 4 Nations confrontation.
“You know how many games he played in the national team jersey,” Hintz said. “It’s what he’s experienced and seen over the last few years and then how he plays and how he is as a guy. He’s a great guy and everyone respects him.”
In this case, the production commands respect.
Since Granlund joined the national team for the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championship, he has been a fixture. He has 94 matches with the Three Lions and won the two World Championships (2011, 2022) referenced by Rantanen. He also won silver at the 2016 World Championship. Two years earlier, he was part of the iconic team that won a bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, one of the proudest moments in the history of this hockey-mad country.
In 10 of his 14 national team tournaments, he averaged at least one point per game, including four points (three goals, one assist) in three games last season at the 4 Nations.
“When he puts on the Finnish jersey, it’s like he’s taking a new step in his game,” Rantanen said.
Granlund knows he has a difficult task ahead. The Finns are not as sought after as Team USA or Team Canada. Rivals Sweden are also considered a better team by many observers. But the high odds never bothered Finland.
They have an identity that has developed since the core of the team began playing together at the World Championships. They know who they are and what their roles are. They accept it and accept it.
This has always been a hallmark of the team. It is a perfect model for this tournament which lasts 12 days.
“That’s the biggest challenge of this tournament, it’s a quick challenge,” Granlund said. “Whoever finds their game and their cohesion the quickest will be in good shape. That’s one of the challenges here.”
