Finland's Olympic Team Rely on Rookie Lineup, With Star Teuvo Teravainen Waiting in the Wings.
The Finnish national team is looking more like a squad than a collection of individual NHL stars as they prepare to take on the world at the upcoming Olympics. With a relatively low number of players on the roster, Finland will be counting on its young guns to deliver, particularly rookie forwards Nick Lardis and Oliver Moore who are playing alongside veteran Teuvo Teravainen.
While it's true that Teravainen is one of the most decorated Finnish players currently in the NHL, with 20 points in just 40 games this season, his role will be more nuanced than expected. The Blackhawks forward has been tasked with mentoring the rookie pair and helping them navigate the fast-paced world of international hockey.
"It's a dream come true," Teravainen said about competing in the Olympics for the first time, "but it's also kind of weird because my age group hasn't had the chance to play in the Olympics. I'm sure everybody is going to be so excited and the hockey is going to be great. Hopefully they get the rink done."
The Finnish team's medal hopes took a hit when star forward Aleksander Barkov suffered a torn ACL during training camp, but it still boasts some of the best players in the NHL, including Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Miro Heiskanen, and Juuse Saros.
However, the biggest concern for Finland is the state of their Olympic hockey arena in Milan. With the ice surface reportedly being more than three feet shorter than NHL regulations, it's a question whether they'll be able to host games at all. And let's not forget about the inconvenient location – far from downtown Milan and with limited amenities.
As for Teravainen himself, he's hoping for more playing time in this tournament after struggling to find his footing in the 4 Nations Face-Off last February. "I'm super happy for Teuvo," said Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill. "It's a great opportunity. They don't come around much. As we've seen, even when you think it might happen, sometimes it doesn't happen. So you cherish these moments to represent your country."
Despite the challenges ahead, Teravainen remains optimistic and is looking forward to the experience. "Sometimes they're in...the wrong spots," he said about Lardis and Moore, "but they're learning. It's been fun to play with them, for sure. They bring a lot of speed and excitement. I'm just trying to be in the right spots for them and give them the puck."
As the Finnish team prepares to take on the world, it will be interesting to see how Teravainen's mentorship role plays out. One thing is for sure – the Blackhawks forward will be a key player in helping his country succeed at the Olympics.
The Finnish national team is looking more like a squad than a collection of individual NHL stars as they prepare to take on the world at the upcoming Olympics. With a relatively low number of players on the roster, Finland will be counting on its young guns to deliver, particularly rookie forwards Nick Lardis and Oliver Moore who are playing alongside veteran Teuvo Teravainen.
While it's true that Teravainen is one of the most decorated Finnish players currently in the NHL, with 20 points in just 40 games this season, his role will be more nuanced than expected. The Blackhawks forward has been tasked with mentoring the rookie pair and helping them navigate the fast-paced world of international hockey.
"It's a dream come true," Teravainen said about competing in the Olympics for the first time, "but it's also kind of weird because my age group hasn't had the chance to play in the Olympics. I'm sure everybody is going to be so excited and the hockey is going to be great. Hopefully they get the rink done."
The Finnish team's medal hopes took a hit when star forward Aleksander Barkov suffered a torn ACL during training camp, but it still boasts some of the best players in the NHL, including Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Miro Heiskanen, and Juuse Saros.
However, the biggest concern for Finland is the state of their Olympic hockey arena in Milan. With the ice surface reportedly being more than three feet shorter than NHL regulations, it's a question whether they'll be able to host games at all. And let's not forget about the inconvenient location – far from downtown Milan and with limited amenities.
As for Teravainen himself, he's hoping for more playing time in this tournament after struggling to find his footing in the 4 Nations Face-Off last February. "I'm super happy for Teuvo," said Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill. "It's a great opportunity. They don't come around much. As we've seen, even when you think it might happen, sometimes it doesn't happen. So you cherish these moments to represent your country."
Despite the challenges ahead, Teravainen remains optimistic and is looking forward to the experience. "Sometimes they're in...the wrong spots," he said about Lardis and Moore, "but they're learning. It's been fun to play with them, for sure. They bring a lot of speed and excitement. I'm just trying to be in the right spots for them and give them the puck."
As the Finnish team prepares to take on the world, it will be interesting to see how Teravainen's mentorship role plays out. One thing is for sure – the Blackhawks forward will be a key player in helping his country succeed at the Olympics.
I've been saying this for years, but our Olympic hockey teams are just a front for something bigger... like a massive experiment to test their skills against non-NHL players. Finland's rookie lineup is being touted as the "squad" of the future, but what if it's all just a setup? 
I mean, have you seen Teravainen's role? He's supposed to be mentoring these kids, but it sounds like he's just trying to keep up with them. And don't even get me started on that ice surface in Milan... 3 feet shorter than NHL standards? That's gotta be a conspiracy, right? 
The real question is, what's the true purpose of these Olympics? Is it really just about hockey, or is it something more sinister? 
. And I get why Teravainen is hyped about mentoring them, he's a legend on the ice and can pass on his knowledge. It's awesome that he's not just focusing on himself this time around though 
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. The Olympics are a huge deal and you've got to be ready to perform under all that scrutiny. And ugh, the state of their hockey arena in Milan is no joke 
- three feet shorter than NHL reg's? That's not exactly ideal.
. With Teravainen on board, I think they've got a solid shot at making it to the podium 
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Finland's youth movement could bring them some silverware! Interesting 
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️. And can't say I blame 'em – those young guns bring some much-needed speed and excitement to the table 
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... or so you'd think 
The ice situation in Milan doesn't help, either - I've seen videos of that rink and it looks super tiny for a hockey match 
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. What if they struggle to adapt to the international game? And what about the pressure on Teuvo Teravainen, who's being asked to mentor these rookies while also performing at his best himself? It's a big ask! 
Also, have you seen that Olympic hockey arena in Milan? Like, seriously? Only three feet taller than NHL regulations? That's a major concern for me 
Nick Lardis and Oliver Moore are killing it this season with an average of 2.5 points per game 
️! Their combined stats over the last 10 games? 
44 points in just 22 periods of play 
. But with Aleksander Barkov out, Finland will have to step up their game 
. Their Olympic arena in Milan is a concern though... 
if they can't get the ice surface right, it'll be tough for them to compete.
16:12 
Only time will tell, but I'm excited to see them give it a shot! 
he's gonna be like a coach on the ice for finland lol and nicks & olivers gotta step up if they wanna bring home that gold 
i'm low-key worried about those finnish olympic rink issues tho... 3ft shorter than NHL reggs? 
how's that gonna affect their chances of a medal? 
i mean, teuvo teravainen is like the ultimate role model 2 those youngbloods nick lardis & oliver moore 
they gotta step up their game tho lol, having a star player on board is def a plus but u can't rely on just one guy. miro heiskanen is also gonna be super crucial 4 the team 
, especially with nick lardis and oliver moore being rookies... they need someone to show them the ropes, and teuvo has been around the block a few times 
the rookies Lardis & Moore are lucky to have him, they're gonna kill it out there! 
my only concern is how will Finland's Olympic hockey arena hold up? that ice surface thingy sounds sketchy 
wish 'em luck despite all these challenges