<p>Last 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.</p>



<p>So far, we’ve forecasted <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/2026-milan-olympics-nhl-early-team-canada-roster-lineup-projections-predictions/">Canada</a>, <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/2026-milan-olympics-nhl-early-team-usa-roster-lineup-projections-predictions/">USA</a> and <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/2026-milan-olympics-nhl-early-team-sweden-roster-lineup-projections-predictions/">Sweden</a>. Next up: Team Finland, who hopes to improve on a disappointing 4 Nations Face-Off showing in which they were the lone team not to win a game.</p>



<p>Assisting me as the guest picker: my friend, Finnish broadcasting dynamo Antti Mäkinen.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FORWARDS (14) –&nbsp;Matt Larkin’s picks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Mikael Granlund</td><td>Roope Hintz</td><td>Mikko Rantanen</td></tr><tr><td>Artturi Lehkonen</td><td>Aleksander Barkov</td><td>Teuvo Teravainen</td></tr><tr><td>Patrik Laine</td><td>Sebastian Aho</td><td>Kaapo Kakko</td></tr><tr><td>Eetu Luostarinen</td><td>Anton Lundell</td><td>Eeli Tolvanen</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Erik Haula</td><td>Joel Armia</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<p>Even though they fell short at the 4 Nations, the Finns boast a nice blend of scoring touch and two-way responsibility in this forward group. I couldn’t resist reuniting the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/dallas-stars/line-combinations">Dallas Stars</a> trio of Granlund, Hintz and Rantanen after they were dominant in spurts during the 2025 postseason before Granlund left in free agency. Forming that top line does push Barkov and Aho further down the lineup than I’d like, but now you have a high-end center driving three different lines, four if you count Lundell, and why not change things up since the Finns struggled last February in best on best? Teravainen’s playing time was sparse at that tourney, but he redeemed himself by leading Finland in points at the 2025 World Championship, so he gets another chance in the top six.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="224"></div>



<p><strong>Biggest flex: </strong>Tolvanen led the 2025 Finnish Worlds team in goals and draws into the lineup after not cracking the 4 Nations group. He’s earned his opportunity.</p>



<p><strong>Toughest cut: </strong>Players like Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Matias Maccelli offer more upside than checkers such as Haula and Armia, but the latter are better suited for penalty-kill work.</p>



<p><em>Also considered: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Joel Kiviranta, Matias Maccelli, Anton Frondell, Kasperi Kapanen, Juuso Parssinen</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FORWARDS&nbsp; (14) –&nbsp;Antti Mäkinen’s picks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Mikael Granlund</td><td>Roope Hintz</td><td>Mikko Rantanen</td></tr><tr><td>Eetu Luostarinen</td><td>Aleksander Barkov</td><td>Anton Lundell</td></tr><tr><td>Artturi Lehkonen</td><td>Sebastian Aho</td><td>Patrik Laine</td></tr><tr><td>Joel Armia</td><td>Erik Haula</td><td>Kaapo Kakko</td></tr><tr><td>Teuvo Teravainen</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Eeli Tolvanen</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<p>The Finns have a strong group of forwards. There’s a lot of players who can succeed in this tournament. Of course, the leader of this group is two-time Stanley Cup &amp; three-time Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov.</p>



<p><strong>Biggest Flex:&nbsp;</strong>Last playoffs showed the hockey world the Dallas Stars putting together the Finnish line with Granlund, Hintz and Rantanen, and I’ve put them together here. Also, the power-play specialist Laine is a lethal weapon for Team Finland. At the 2016 world juniors he won the gold with Finland, lining up the with Aho. With this line there is also Lehkonen, who is a lifesaver whomever he plays with.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="176"></div>



<p><strong>Toughest cut: </strong>Matias Maccelli had a hard season with <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/utah-mammoth/line-combinations">Utah</a>. now he will be wearing the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs </a>jersey, and if he takes a big step forward, he will be in the mix.&nbsp;Same goes for Kasperi Kapanen if he can carry over his momentum from the 2025 playoffs with the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a>.</p>



<p><em>Also considered: Matias Maccelli, Kasperi Kapanen</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DEFENSEMEN (8) –&nbsp;Matt Larkin’s picks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Esa Lindell</td><td>Miro Heiskanen</td></tr><tr><td>Niko Mikkola</td><td>Rasmus Ristolainen</td></tr><tr><td>Ollli Maatta</td><td>Henri Jokiharju</td></tr><tr><td>Juuso Valimaki</td><td>Nikolas Matinpalo</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<p>It’s crucial to remember the Finns played the 4 Nations without their top defenseman in Heiskanen, plus another clear starter in Ristolainen, due to injuries. A healthy Heiskanen can chew minutes with his Dallas partner in Lindell. Ristolainen’s triceps injury will cost him the start of 2025-26 with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/philadelphia-flyers/line-combinations">Philadelphia Flyers</a>, but he should be Olympic-ready well before February 2026. Mikkola, now a two-time Stanley Cup champ with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/line-combinations">Florida Panthers</a>, brings big-game experience. This isn’t the sexiest group on paper, but it’s big, physical and mobile.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="147"></div>



<p><strong>Biggest flex: </strong>Too much recency bias on my part putting Matinpalo on the team even though he was only a last-minute injury replacement at the 4 Nations? I like the way the big fella acquitted himself there, so I give him the nod.</p>



<p><strong>Toughest cut: </strong>Jani Hakanpaa said he was <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/jani-hakanpaa-reveals-cleared-by-toronto-maple-leafs-doctors-play-2025-playoffs">cleared by doctors and could’ve drawn into the Leafs’ playoff lineup</a> last spring. If he’s at his best, he’s good enough to make this team, but it’s hard to feel confident in a player battling a chronic knee problem who has played two NHL games since the end of the 2023-24 season.</p>



<p><em>Also considered: Urho Vaakanainen, Jani Hakanpaa</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DEFENSEMEN (8) –&nbsp;Antti Mäkinen’s picks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Olli Määttä</td><td>Miro Heiskanen</td></tr><tr><td>Niko Mikkola</td><td>Henri Jokiharju</td></tr><tr><td>Rasmus Ristolainen</td><td>Esa Lindell</td></tr><tr><td>Urho Vaakanainen</td><td>Nikolas Matinpalo</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<p>If everyone stays healthy, Finns will have a solid D-corps. They played the 4 Nations tournament without Heiskanen, Ristolainen and Hakanpää, and it was too much. If the Finns would like to battle for the gold medal, these key players need to stay healthy.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="153"></div>



<p><strong>Biggest Flex:</strong> Vaakanainen played a solid season with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-rangers/line-combinations">New York Rangers.</a> He’s really close to taking a starting spot on this team. Nikolas Matinpalo has been taking a step forward with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/ottawa-senators/line-combinations">Ottawa Senators</a>, and he´s also an option for this team.</p>



<p><strong>Toughest cut:</strong> Hakanpää missed almost all of last season, and it’s still uncertain if he’s able to play.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>Also considered: Jani Hakanpää, Juuso Valimaki</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GOALTENDERS (3) –&nbsp;Matt Larkin’s picks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Juuse Saros</td></tr><tr><td>Kevin Lankinen</td></tr><tr><td>Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<p>Saros struggled at the 4 Nations, yes, but he still has the highest ceiling of Finland’s goalie stable and, we can’t forget, didn’t have a full-strength defense corps in front of him in that tourney. Saros at his best can steal games and spearhead a medal run. He’s still the No. 1, as suggested by Finland naming him as one of its First Six for the team in June.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="137"></div>



<p><strong>Biggest flex: </strong>Lankinen’s final numbers at the 4 Nations were worse than Saros’. Still, I have Lankinen second on the depth chart since Finland turned to him as their secondary option for two of four games. Luukkonen could play his way into No. 2 duty if he delivers a strong first half with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/buffalo-sabres/line-combinations">Buffalo Sabres</a>.</p>



<p><strong>Toughest cut: </strong>It’s close between Lankinen, Luukkonen and Joonas Korpisalo, the latter of whom could easily make the team and land as high as second on the depth chart. Korpisalo is the oldest of the group, didn’t have a great year with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/boston-bruins/line-combinations">Boston Bruins</a> and thus has to play his way onto the team.</p>



<p><em>Also considered: Joonas Korpisalo, Leevi Merilainen, Justus Annunen, Joel Blomqvist, Ville Husso</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GOALTENDERS (3) –&nbsp;Antti Mäkinen’s picks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Juuse Saros</td></tr><tr><td>Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen</td></tr><tr><td>Kevin Lankinen</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>Saros is eager to return to the elite level of goalies. ‘UPL’ is a big goalie and can challenge Saros if he struggles.&nbsp; Lankinen has been there for Team Finland for years.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="155"></div>



<p><strong>Biggest flex: </strong>None.</p>



<p><strong>Toughest cut:&nbsp;</strong>Joonas Korpisalo. It’s a coinflip, he could be up there. There are also goalies like Justus Annunen, Ville Husso and Leevi Meriläinen, but at this point, they’re not ready for a starting goalie spot for Team Finland.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>Also considered: Justus Annunen, Ville Husso, Leevi Meriläinen</em></p>



<p>_____</p>



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