The next Winter Olympics are in Italy in 2026. Here are my predictions for the next team Finland hockey roster at the Olympics. This will include who will be on the team and what the lines will be. It will also include goalies, penalty kill units, powerplay units, and more.
Gunner’s Projected Roster For Team Finland At The Next Olympics
Forward Lines
| Line 1: | Teuvo Teravainen | Aleksander Barkov (C) | Mikko Rantanen |
Aleksander Barkov is one of the best players in the world and can play with anyone. He is a true unicorn as he is elite offensively but can also shut down the top players on the another team. He is going to be the top line center and captain of this team.
Mikko Rantanen has proven that he can play with elite players like Nathan MacKinnon (check out our team Canada Predictions for the 2026 Olympics) on his Colorado Avalanche teams. I expect that Rantanen would be great alongside Barkov. Seems like a no-brainer to put them together.
Teuvo Teravainen is a great playmaker, so I think he could be a solid linemate for Barkov and Rantanen. This would give Finland a top line with some elite talent on it and they will be a handful for any country they face off against.
| Line 2: | Artturi Lehkonen | Roope Hintz | Patrik Laine |
Roope Hintz has some great chemistry with Jason Robertson in Dallas. Since Robertson is a great goalscorer, I think that Hintz and Patrik Laine would be a great fit together. Laine is an elite sniper, so I think it would make sense for them to try it out to see if they can find something together.
I went for a well-balanced approach to the lines, so that is why I went with Artturi Lehkonen. He can help Laine and Hintz on the defensive side of things and might chip in offensively as well.
| Line 3: | Matias Maccelli | Sebastian Aho (A) | Eeli Tolvanen |
You could argue that Sebastian Aho (or Roope Hintz) should play with Barkov. I like Barkov, Hintz, and Aho spread out, which gives them three elite centers on each line. That way, they have a well balanced attack and can come at opponents in waves. They can always move Aho up and down the line-up on the wing but I would have him centering his own line to start.
Matias Maccelli and Eeli Tolvanen are both young but should continue to improve and should make the team. If they do, I could see them playing alongside Aho on this line.
| Line 4: | Eetu Luostarinen | Anton Lundell | Joakim Kemell |
I went with more of a shutdown line here. Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen have played together on the Florida Panthers, so a reunion would make sense on the fourth line. Both guys should be on this team.
Joakim Kemell might be a surprise but I could see him improving and finding a spot on this team. I like his game and think he could be a reliable fourth liner. They could realistically replaced him with any of the bubble names though if that doesn’t pan out. Doesn’t change much.
| On the bubble: | Erik Haula |
| Kasperi Kapanen | |
| Joel Armia |
Erik Haula and Joel Armia will be on the older side of things by the time this tournament happens, so that is why they are on the bubble for me. I could see either guy make it if Finland wants a more veteran presence. Kasperi Kapanen is a speedy winger who they could also use if needed.
Defense Pairs
| Pair 1: | Esa Lindell | Miro Heiskanen (A) |
Miro Heiskanen is one of the best defensemen in the entire NHL. You can pencil him in for the top pairing and to play a ton of minutes for Finland. I think he will also be an assistant captain for the squad.
Heiskanen will more than likely play with Esa Lindell. These two Dallas Stars teammates are familiar with one another and should have some chemistry. There is some elite talent in this tournament, so they will have some challenging matchups.
| Pair 2: | Niko Mikkola | Henri Jokiharju |
Niko Mikkola should definitely be on this team after his stock has risen so much based on his play with the Florida Panthers. I expect him to be in the top 4 on this defense core. I think he even has a chance to move up to play with Miro Heiskanen if he keeps progressing.
For now, I am going to guess that Mikkola will play alongside Henri Jokiharju, who has established himself as an NHL regular.
| Pair 3: | Juuso Välimäki | Olli Määtta |
The third d-pairing is a bit of a crapshoot for me right now. It will depend a lot on how guys are playing at the time of the tournament.
Juuso Välimäki is a solid offensive defenseman. Right now, I will pair him with a veteran like Olli Määtta. Olli could be replaced by either name on the bubble, depending on how they are all playing.
| On the bubble: | Urho Vaakanainen |
| Rasmus Ristolainen |
Rasmus Ristolainen and Urho Vaakanainen the two names who I think could crack this team. I have them on the outside looking in for now but they are names to keep your eyes on as the tournament gets closer.
Goalies
| Starter: | Juuse Saros |
| Backup: | Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen |
| Third String: | Joonas Korpisalo |
Goaltending on this Finnish team seems easy to predict. Juuse Saros is the likely starter, unless his game falls off a cliff. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has a chance to take the net from him but I doubt it.
Joonas Korpisalo seems like the third option if needed.
Powerplay Units
| Unit 1: | Mikko Rantanen | ||
| Roope Hintz | Aleksander Barkov | Sebastian Aho | |
| Miro Heiskanen | |||
| Unit 2: | Eeli Tolvanen | ||
| Patrik Laine | Anton Lundell | Teuvo Teravainen | |
| Juuso Välimäki | |||
Penalty Kill Units
| Unit 1: | Aleksander Barkov | Eetu Luostarinen |
| Esa Lindell | Olli Määtta | |
| Unit 2: | Sebastian Aho | Teuvo Teravainen |
| Niko Mikkola | Henri Jokiharju | |