Which Olympic Teams Got a Boost Without NHLers? Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTg2ODM1OTQyNzY4NjUwMTI4/usatsi_10637691.jpg] With the opening ceremony just a few weeks away, Olympic rosters continue to roll in. Finland was the latest nation to unveil the 25-man roster it will take to Beijing next month to compete for gold on Thursday afternoon that, despite the NHL's decision to withdraw its participation from the Games back in December, is absolutely loaded with big-league talent. Leading the forward group is Valteri Filppula, veteran of over 1,000 NHL games and 500 points spent between the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and New York Islanders. After spending last season with the Red Wings, Filppula hopped overseas during the summer and now plays for Geneve Servette of the Swiss league. Leo Komarov is yet another former NHL veteran set to represent Finland in a few weeks, with the 34-year-old terminating his contract with the Islanders this season in order to take his talents over to SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL, for whom he has since racked up six points in 18 games. Joining Filppula and Komarov are a host of players who enjoyed cups of coffee in the NHL to varying degrees. Teemu Hartikainen suited up for 52 games with the Edmonton Oilers over three seasons before bolting to the KHL in 2013. Miro Aaltonen never actually played in a regular-season game for the Leafs before heading back to Russia, but the diminutive center did put together a strong preseason for the club back in 2017 and became a key part of the Toronto Marlies' first-ever Calder Cup that same year. And then there's Markus Granlund who, to be fair, had more than a cup of coffee, logging 335 career games with the Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks over seven seasons. He now spends his time with Salavat Ulaev of, you guessed it, the KHL. On the blueline, Finland is led by former Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils, and Dallas Stars defenseman Sami Vatanen, who followed Filppula to Switzerland this past offseason to join Geneve Servette. Along with him is former Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets defender Mikko Lehtonen, once considered the "Finnish Bobby Orr", who went back to the KHL this season after failed stints with both clubs. With the playing field as even as ever this year, the race for gold will be as tight as it gets. The full roster list can be found below. ----- FORWARDS: Marco Anttila, Marcus Granlund, Sakari Manninen, Niko Ojamaki, Teemu Hartikainen, Joonas Kemppainen, Leo Komarov, Hannes Bjorninen, Saku Maenalanen, Toni Rajala, Iro Pakarinen, Valteri Filppula, Harri Pesonen DEFENSEMEN: Ville Pokka, Jusso Heitanen, Niklas Friman, Petteri Lindbohm, Mikko Lehtonen, Sami Vatanen, Valteri Kemilainen, Atte Ohtamaa GOALTENDERS: Harri Sateri, Frans Tuohimaa, Jussi Olkinuara
