Team Finland has announced its final roster for the 4 Nations Fac-Off Tournament. Led by longtime Team Finland general manager Jere Lehtinen and coached by Antti Pennanen, head coach of IIves of the Finnish SM Liiga, Finland will carry this roster against some of the best players in the world during this tournament. While other top hockey nations like Czechia and Russia will not take part, Team Finland will have to go head-to-head against Sweden, the United States, and Canada. This should be an exciting competition filled with speed, skill and tenacity.
A solid roster from start to Finnish ?? #4Nations pic.twitter.com/DMyk64ztpG
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 4, 2024
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Team Finland Ready for the 4 Nations Face-Off
Earlier this year, the first six players stamped their names on the Finnish 4 Nations Face-Off roster. This included forwards Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes, and Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche as well as defencemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell of the Dallas Stars with goaltender Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators starting between the pipes. These teams seem almost synonymous with Finland’s representation in the NHL.
The Panthers and Stars took part in an international game in Finland earlier this season while carrying Finnish NHLers including Barkov, Heiskanen and Lindell along with Niko Mikkola, Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell of the Panthers and Roope Hintz of the Stars. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have found a strength in drafting and acquiring players from Finland including Aho along with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and of the last few years Teuvo Teravainen, Erik Haula and Antti Raanta. The former two now members of Team Finland. Oh, and the Predators? If Saros isn’t already one of the NHL’s top goaltenders, does Pekka Rinne ring any bells? As the rest of Team Finland is now unveiled and other teams across the NHL provide additional players, it’s no secret that this team is ready to compete.
Looking at Finland’s Roster
Team Finland should be pretty strong down the middle for this tournament. With Barkov and Aho settling in as the presumed 1C and 2C, enough can’t be said about what centre strength does for a team. Then you look at some of these wingers surrounding these two in the top six and Finland’s offence should be more than ready to shine. While the depth further down the forward lineup remains solid, as does the defence, Finland should have another strong point in net. Even though the Predators are struggling some this season, Saros is still putting up solid numbers in net. For such a short tournament, having that strength in net could be a difference-maker. They may not have the starter to backup strength quite like the United States, but goaltending should still be a strength regardless.
At the end of the day, this should be a really fun tournament for the players and fans alike. Finally, after many years, we will all get to see a best-on-best tournament involving NHL players representing their countries. Sure, it is only four nations. But you can’t argue that Sweden, Canada, the United States and Finland currently, and historically, carry many of the best hockey players to ever lace up the skates. Buckle up. This should be a fun ride and Finland will look to make some noise.
Main Photo Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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