The Finns have found their presumable starter for the 2026 Winter Olympics [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/men-s-2026-olympic-hockey-teams-announce-their-first-six-players-tracker-and-reaction]. On Monday, the NHL announced [https://x.com/NHL/status/1934594179474076108] preliminary rosters for six players from 10 of the 12 teams competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan-Cortina, Italy, from February 5 to 22. Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators]goalie Juuse Saros [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/predators-juuse-saros-team-finland-eliminated-from-iihf-men-s-world-championship] was named to Finland's preliminary roster. The roster also included Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho, Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov and three Dallas Stars' players: defenseman Miro Heiskanen, forward Mikko Rantanen and defenseman Esa Lindell. Saros is currently the top Finnish goalie in the league, having played in 408 games, posted a 202-150 record, and recorded 27 shutouts. He has a goals against average of 2.68 and a save percentage of .914. This past season, Saros played 58 games and won 28 with four shutouts. He had a goals-against average of 2.98 and a save percentage of .896. His GAA this season was the highest of his career, having played 20 games or more. This will be Saros's seventh time representing Finland and his first time playing for his home country at the Olympics. Saros recently represented the Finns at the 2025 IIHF World Championship [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/predators-juuse-saros-team-finland-eliminated-from-iihf-men-s-world-championship], posting a 4-2 record over six games and a 1.67 goals-against average. Finland finished in seventh place, losing to the United States [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players/predators-skjei-mccarron-help-united-states-to-1st-iihf-world-championship-in-92-years] in the quarterfinal round. Saros has tasted gold before when representing Finland, winning the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2014. He lost just one of six games, posting a 1.57 save percentage. This is the first time since 2014 that NHL players will be allowed to compete in the Winter Olympics.
