When the 4 Nations Face-off was first announced back in February, we did a roster projection for each of the participating squads. Now that the event is just six months away — it begins Feb. 12, 2025 — we’re revisiting those lineups.
To be honest, not much has changed for Team Finland between then and now in terms of who figures to populate the squad. What has changed, though, is the amount of championship experience that courses through the roster.
Thanks to the Florida Panthers’ 2024 Stanley Cup victory, the Finns basically boast three centres with championship chops, plus another one who figures to be a valuable piece on the blue line.
Throw that together with what should be a strong crease and, though Finland will enter the 4 Nations as the fourth-most talented squad, there’s potential for the always-plucky Lions to emerge the winner.
One day after constructing an American team, here’s a look at how GM Jere Lehtinen and the Finnish brass might assemble their roster.
(Players already named to the squad are listed in bold).
Forwards
Sebastian Aho–Aleksander Barkov-Mikael Granlund
Matias Maccelli-Roope Hintz-Mikko Rantanen
Artturi Lehkonen-Anton Lundell-Teuvo Teräväinen
Erik Haula-Eetu Luostarinen-Joel Armia
Extra: Brad Lambert
In the mix: Patrik Laine, Eeli Tolvanen, Rasmus Kupari, Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Aleksander Barkov just went head-to-head with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final and came away the winner. That means something. So, too, does the fact pivots Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen were important players on that Cats squad. Throw in the Cup pedigree of Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen from their 2022 title in Colorado and this forward group has a lot of guys who both know how to play and know how to win. Patrik Laine is a complete wild card for a squad that’s biggest challenge might be producing goals. If he comes out of the NHLPA player assistance program and has a solid first couple months to the season — be it in Columbus or somewhere else — you have to think Jere Lehtinen is going to find a spot for him. Brad Lambert is coming off a solid rookie season in the AHL and might also be a fun bet on offence for the Finns if he can show something as an NHL freshman.
Defence
Miro Heiskanen-Rasmus Ristolainen
Esa Lindell-Jani Hakanpää
Niko Mikkola-Henri Jokiharju
Extra: Olli Maatta
In the mix: Juuso Valimaki, Urho Vaakanainen
Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell haven’t won a Cup, but they’ve each played 45 playoff games the past three springs with the Dallas Stars. Heiskanen may not come off the ice for this squad and ring-wearing Panther Niko Mikkola can be a steadying force on the third pair.
Goalie
Juuse Saros
Extra: Kaapo Kähkönen
In the mix: Justus Annunen, Joonas Korpisalo, Ville Husso
Both Juuse Saros and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen put their name on new contracts this summer, with Saros inking a monster eight-year extension to stay in Nashville and Luukkonen signing a five-year deal with Buffalo in the hopes he can be the man there to lead the Sabres back to the post-season. While Saros is obviously the clubhouse leader for the starter’s job, this might be more of a competition than some realize. While Saros had a slightly down year this past season, Luukkonen was one of the best stoppers in the business during the second half of the campaign. From Jan. 1 on, Luukkonen played 36 games, which is one more than Saros and only one fewer than the 37 league leader Andrei Vasilevskiy appeared in. During that span, the 25-year-old posted a .919 save percentage on an utterly average Sabres squad and only three other stoppers in the NHL — Pyotr Kochetkov (.920), Jordan Binnington (.922) and Connor Hellebuyck (.923) — registered a better mark.
Saros may get the Game 1 tap, but Luukkonen could be a fantastic option for Game 2 if need be.