Finland’s Olympic Hockey Squad Loaded with Stars Talent as Rantanen, Granlund Lead the Charge
Finland isn’t just knocking on the door of hockey’s elite anymore-they’ve kicked it down and made themselves at home. Once seen as a scrappy underdog behind traditional powerhouses like Canada, Sweden, Russia, and the U.S., the Finns have climbed the international ranks with purpose and precision. Now, as they prepare for the upcoming Olympic tournament, Finland enters not just as a contender, but as a team with serious gold medal aspirations.
And they’re bringing some serious NHL firepower to the ice.
The men’s national team will feature a heavy Dallas Stars influence, with Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, and Mikko Rantanen all suiting up in the blue and white. On Monday, Finland named veteran forward Mikael Granlund as team captain, bringing leadership and Olympic experience to the locker room. Rantanen joins the leadership group as an assistant captain, alongside Carolina Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho.
Let’s talk about Rantanen for a second. The 29-year-old winger is playing some of the best hockey of his career.
With 20 goals and 49 assists through 54 NHL games this season, he’s on pace to notch his third 100-point campaign-a rare feat that puts him in elite company. He’ll be skating on Finland’s top line with Stars teammate Roope Hintz centering and Granlund on the right wing.
That trio isn’t just the top line-it’s the engine of Finland’s offense.
They’ll also form the core of Finland’s top power play unit. Heiskanen, one of the most dynamic two-way defensemen in the game, will quarterback the unit from the left side of the blue line, while Aho is expected to handle duties on the right point. It’s a setup built for puck movement, high-IQ plays, and a whole lot of offensive pressure.
Finland’s path through the group stage won’t be easy. They open the tournament Wednesday morning against a sneaky-tough Slovakia squad.
Then comes the marquee matchup-Friday’s showdown against Sweden, a rivalry that always delivers fireworks. Finland wraps up round-robin play on Saturday against Italy.
With a roster stacked with NHL talent and a proven international track record, Finland isn’t just hoping for a medal-they’re expecting one. And if this Stars-heavy core plays up to its potential, they just might bring home the biggest prize of all.
Fans can catch the action throughout the tournament on NBC and USA Network.