D core isnt good? You have one of the best young defensemen in the league as well as 2 (3 if you add Heinola) of the top defensive prospects in the league as well as some solid supporting cast

Compared to the other major countries, it's weak. Lindell and Heiskanen are very good. Ristolainen is terrible defensively, and the rest are bottom pairing NHL'ers.

FIN gotta hope Valimaki's growth continues or a wilcard like Juolevi saves the day in Vancouver... They don't quite have the top 4 D to cement their defensive core.
Forwards are pretty impressive though.

All bottom pairing NHL'ers is kind of an exaggeration. Vatanen is on IR but normally plays top 6, Valimaki is only there because he's a rookie and is being sheltered, and Jokiharju is listed as "3rd pair" but averages 17 minutes a night as a sophomore.

I agree that on a grand scale of the olympics this d-core isn't amazing but it's definitely not bad and has a lot of potential, especially if you add Heinola

I could see a scenario where Puljujarvi earns a spot by 2022

Heiskanen is the only "very good" d-man they have.

No, Heiskanen is the only elite d-man they have

Point is, besides Heiskanen, they don't have anyone particularly great

You underrate Lindell and the rookies

I'd drop Lehkonen and Kiviranta and add Kakko and Puljujärvi.

Also that D is good. Plus Finnish national team generally have well built D system.

Last time they got NHL players to olympics Finland got bronze...and Määttä was their best D in that tournament...and he was 19 years old.