Finland named its roster for the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday, with 24 of the 25 players coming from the NHL.
The only one playing in Europe is defenseman Mikko Lehtonen, who was part of Finland’s gold-medal-winning team at the Beijing Games in 2022. Lehtonen has skated in eight games this season for Zurich.
Two-time Stanley Cup champion Aleksander Barkov is not on the team after undergoing surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right knee from an injury he suffered during Florida Panthers training camp. Montreal’s Oliver Kapanen was among those picked to fill that void after not participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off early last year.
Much like the U.S. and Canada, the vast majority of Finland's 4 Nations team is back for the Olympics, including all three goaltenders: Kevin Lankinen, Juuse Saros and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Urho Vaakanainen of the New York Rangers is the only one not returning and the only Finnish defenseman in the NHL not chosen.
Dallas and Florida are well-represented, even without Barkov. The Stars have four players, Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Esa Lindell and Mikko Rantanen, while the Panthers have three: Niko Mikkola, Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell.
AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller helped the U.S. win the world hockey championship for the first time since 1933, while Seth Jones was a key part of the Florida Panthers' second consecutive Stanley Cup run.
Those contributions earned them a spot on the U.S. team at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as the only three additions from the 4 Nations Face-Off early last year.
USA Hockey unveiled its roster Friday on the “Today” show, with a vast majority of it made up of players who took part in the NHL-run international tournament in February, when the Americans made the final before losing to Canada in overtime. The only ones not back from the 4 Nations are forward Chris Kreider and former New York Rangers teammate Adam Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman.
“It was incredibly difficult for our management group to get to the final roster and that’s a credit to so many in our country, including all those at the grassroots level who help make our sport so strong," general manager Bill Guerin said. "There’s nothing like the Olympics and I know our players and staff will represent our country well and work hard to achieve our ultimate goal.”
Keller, who's captain of the Utah Mammoth and tied for their lead in scoring, wore the “C" at worlds. Thompson, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres, was a point-a-game producer.
The U.S. followed Canada's lead after its northern neighbor also chose a 4 Nations-heavy roster. But while Canada made some changes in net beyond starter Jordan Binnington, the Americans went with the same three goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.
Left off were Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who's leads U.S. players in points this season, and a couple other elite goal scorers, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat.
Guerin and his management staff, along with coach Mike Sullivan, prioritized experience and players they knew well. That meant sticking with depth forwards Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson over Robertson and others.
Teams are allowed 25 players at the Olympics, up from 23 at the 4 Nations, and can dress 20 skaters — typically 13 forwards and seven defenseman, along with two goalies. The first U.S. game is Feb. 12 against Latvia.
AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
FILE - Florida Panthers Seth Jones carries the Stanley Cup during the NHL hockey team's Stanley Cup championship celebration, Sunday, June, 22, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin, File)
FILE - Sweden's Marcus Johansson falls by United States' Tage Thompson during the semifinal match between Sweden and the United States at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm,Sweden, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
FILE - United States' Clayton Keller holds up the tropy after the final match between United States and Switzerland at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
