Russian journalist Igor Eronko, writing for Sport-Express, has shared critical remarks regarding Antti Pennanen, the head coach of the Finnish national ice hockey team. Despite Russia's absence from the Milan-Cortina Olympic ice hockey tournament, Eronko takes the opportunity to analyze and question the capabilities of Pennanen, particularly citing his performance in the previous two tournaments. Eronko notes that while Pennanen may have had success with younger players in the Finnish league, this does not equate to the caliber needed for the high-stakes Olympic level where NHL players compete.

Eronko echoes sentiments discussed earlier regarding NHL players who expressed interest in bringing Paul Maurice, the head coach of the Florida Panthers, to lead the Finnish team instead. The Russian journalist implies that Pennanen has not inspired confidence among observers in his coaching methods or strategies. The article brings to light the ongoing discourse among European coaching circles about the effectiveness and viability of freelance coaches, suggesting that a coach focusing solely on a national team may present inherent limitations.

The implications of such criticism not only reflect the tense atmosphere surrounding international hockey but also suggest a broader concern regarding coaching standards in European hockey leagues. The discourse points to a potential need for Finnish hockey to reevaluate coaching approaches as they prepare for significant international competitions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high-performance standards, particularly as they aim to compete against NHL-caliber teams at the Olympics.