2026 Olympics: Updated Team Finland roster projections
Previously this month, we kicked off our early 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster projections at Daily Faceoff. Our roster structures will mimic those of the Olympic squads: 22 skaters, three goaltenders. The national teams will submit their finalized editions by Dec. 31, 2025.
We began by breaking down Canada. Next up, we reviewed the top challenger, Team USA, then the underrated gold-medal threat Team Sweden.
Today, we assess Team Finland, which seems to sit in its own tier as the consensus No. 4 team but will have a tougher road to medalling than expected with top center Aleksander Barkov out with a torn ACL and MCL and unlikely to heal up in time for Milan, with goal-scorer Patrik Laine shelved until mid-winter with a core-muscle injury that will likely cost him the Olympics, too. How will the Finns replace them?
Joining me as the guest picker once again: my friend, Finnish broadcaster Antti Mäkinen.
FORWARDS (14 ) – Matt Larkin’s picks
| Mikael Granlund | Roope Hintz | Mikko Rantanen |
| Artturi Lehkonen | Sebastian Aho | Teuvo Teravainen |
| Eetu Luostarinen | Anton Lundell | Kaapo Kakko |
| Oliver Kapanen | Erik Haula | Eeli Tolvanen |
| Jani Nyman | Joel Armia |
OUT: Aleksander Barkov (knee), Patrik Laine (core muscle)
IN: Oliver Kapanen, Jani Nyman
The bad news: There’s simply no replacing the future Hall of Famer Barkov, an all-time great 200-foot player. And the loss of Laine’s shot on the power play will sting despite his struggles in the five games he played this season before getting hurt. The good news: I still like this top nine quite a bit. The Granlund-Hintz-Rantanen line reunites after popping with the Dallas Stars last spring, as do former Carolina Hurricanes teammates Aho and Teravainen, while Lundell and Luostarinen will hope to carry over the dominance they showed on the Florida Panthers’ third line en route to the Stanley Cup last season.
Biggest flex: Since I’m mostly patching roster holes in this update, I wouldn’t say I have a major flex, unless you count me leaving Laine off the team when he’s not yet guaranteed to miss the tournament. Judging by what we know of his recovery timeline, it would be a tall order to be ready for high-stakes action by mid-February. Everything would have to go perfectly and setback-free in his rehab. I suppose it’s notable I skewed for youthful upside in my replacement additions. Nyman brings size and goal-scoring ability, while Kapanen has two-way sensibility with a sneaky-dangerous shot.
Toughest cut: I could’ve played it safe with a veteran replacement such as Jesperi Kotkaniemi, I suppose, but he hasn’t played a single minute for the national team in half a decade.
Also considered: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Joel Kiviranta, Matias Maccelli, Kasperi Kapanen, Juuso Parssinen, Ville Koivunen
FORWARDS (14) – Antti Mäkinen’s picks
| Mikael Granlund | Roope Hintz | Mikko Rantanen |
| Artturi Lehkonen | Sebastian Aho | Teuvo Teravainen |
| Eetu Luostarinen | Anton Lundell | Oliver Kapanen |
| Joel Kiviranta | Erik Haula | Joel Armia |
| Kaapo Kakko | Eeli Tolvanen |
OUT: Aleksander Barkov, Patrik Laine
IN: Joel Kiviranta, Oliver Kapanen
Without Barkov, the top six changes massively. Teravainen steps in with his old linemate Aho. Oliver Kapanen has stepped up to this lineup, as well Joel Kiviranta. The fourth line is a character line. With Barkov out and Laine out: a few years ago this lineup looked better than it does now.
DEFENSEMEN (8) – Matt Larkin’s picks
| Esa Lindell | Miro Heiskanen |
| Niko Mikkola | Henri Jokiharju |
| Ollli Maatta | Rasmus Ristolainen |
| Urho Vaakanainen | Nikolas Matinpalo |
OUT: Juuso Valimaki (knee)
IN: Urho Vaakanainen
Only seven Finnish defensemen have played in the NHL this season, so it makes sense to roll with them in my projection. A disproportionate amount of the ice time will fall to the Lindell-Heiskanen pair plus reigning two-time Stanley Cup champion Mikkola.
Biggest flex: The only tweak I made was nudging Ristolainen down to the third pairing. He’s expected to return from his triceps injury and suit up for the Philadelphia Flyers next month, but the longer he takes to come back and find his legs, the less ready he’ll be for a top-four workload. If he’s looking good by my final projection, I’ll bump him back up.
Toughest cut: Juuso Valimaki was on my previous roster projection but still hasn’t returned from the ACL injury he sustained last season. Given he was a marginal case for the team to begin with, I don’t see him beating out any of the names above even if he’s back in time.
Also considered: Juuso Valimaki
DEFENSEMEN (8) – Antti Mäkinen’s picks
| Esa Lindell | Miro Heiskanen |
| Niko Mikkola | Rasmus Ristolainen |
| Olli Määttä | Henri Jokiharju |
| Urho Vaakanainen | Mikko Lehtonen |
OUT: Nikolas Matinpalo
IN: Mikko Lehtonen
Ristolainen has been injured and therefore he’s a question mark. Määttä, Jokiharju & Vaakanainen have been in and out of their teams’ lineups, but there’s not anyone to challenge those players from this roster. Mikko Lehtonen is a best option from Europe side, and he’ll step up to this lineup.
GOALTENDERS (3) – Matt Larkin’s picks
| Juuse Saros |
| Kevin Lankinen |
| Joonas Korpisalo |
OUT: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
IN: Joonas Korpisalo
Playing on another disappointing Nashville Predators team, Saros doesn’t look like the star he was even two years ago, but no Finnish netminder has outplayed him enough to seize the top spot from him.
Biggest flex: Nothing particularly bold with my choices here; Korpisalo moves up because he’s been one of the three busiest Finnish goaltenders in the NHL this season.
Toughest cut: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was on my previous roster projection and has the upside to be a top-two goalie for his nation, but his early-season injury woes and subsequent sparse playing time with the Buffalo Sabres have limited his sample size and potentially damaged his chances to make the Olympic squad. What if he’s been out of sight, out of mind?
Also considered: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Leevi Merilainen, Justus Annunen, Joel Blomqvist, Ville Husso
GOALTENDERS (3) – Antti Mäkinen’s picks
| Juuse Saros |
| Joonas Korpisalo |
| Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen |
OUT: Kevin Lankinen
IN: Joonas Korpisalo
Saros has been struggling with his team, but there’s not a better option at this point. Luukkonen got injured in the training camp and hasn’t played enough. Korpisalo has been a solid backup goalie for the Boston Bruins, and he’s going be one of the three choices for Milan.
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