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For every team, we’ll have one question, a look at the lineup, and their path to victory (plus any other lingering notes). The lines are courtesy of PuckPedia and subject to change.

Related: Olympics: Team USA Men’s Hockey Preview

Finland

Question: Does Finland have the center depth to replace Aleksander Barkov?

If there’s one position that Finland is dominant at, it’s centers. Losing Aleksander Barkov, an elite Selke Trophy-winning center, hurts (just ask the Florida Panthers), yet Finland has multiple two-way centers ready to step up and play that top-line role. 

Projected Lineup

Forwards

Mikael Granlund – Roope Hintz – Mikko Rantanen

Arturri Kehkonen – Sebastian Aho – Teuvo Teravainen

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Kaapo Kakko

Eeli Tolvanen – Erik Haula – Joel Armia

Defense

Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen

Niko Mikkola – Rasmus Ristolainen

Olli Maatta – Henri Jokiharju

Goaltending

Juuse Saros

Kevin Lankinen

Finland has some game-changers throughout their lineup. Mikko Rantanen, in particular, is the power forward who will be tough to stop and can singlehandedly take over games. Anton Lundell is a top-six center but is on the third line and gives Finland favorable matchups. The question mark, oddly enough, is in the net with Juuse Saros, who is elite but has his highs and lows and must stay hot for the Finnish group to make a run. 

The Path to Gold for Finland

The depth must hold up, and Saros can’t let them down in the net. Otherwise, there’s no reason to believe Finland can’t win Gold or earn a medal. Rantanen will dominate on the wing, and the Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen pair can shut opponents down. Throw in depth with Sebastian Aho playing fast while the fourth line plays a heavy game, and Finland can be the nation to watch at the end of the day. 

Sweden

Question: There’s NHL-level talent everywhere but where is the star power?

The Swedish lineup has a lot of good but not elite players. More accurately, Filip Forsberg is a great player but not a difference maker, and Sweden has multiple players who fit into that category (it’s moments like these when they can use a healthy Leo Carlsson). Their best players, interestingly enough, might be William Nylander and the top-four defensemen. 

Projected Lineup

Forwards

Filip Forsberg – Joel Eriksson Ek – William Nylander

Jesper Bratt – Elias Lindholm – Lucas Raymond

Mika Zibanejad – Elias Pettersson – Rickard Rakell

Gabriel Landeskog – Alex Wennberg – Adrian Kempe

Defense

Victor Hedman – Rasmus Dahlin

Gustav Forsling – Erik Karlsson

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Rasmus Andersson 

(Philip Broberg – Hampus Lindholm)

Goaltending

Filip Gustavsson

Jacob Markstrom

This defense can be something special, especially if the top four play at a high level. With Rasmus Dahlin and Victor Hedman on the top pair, while Gustav Forsling is the shutdown option paired with scoring threat Erik Karlsson, Sweden has a defense that can play any type of game. Circling back to the forwards, Sweden needs some of them to reinvigorate themselves on the Olympic team, notably Elias Pettersson and Mika Zibanejad, two players who, without question, are talented but are struggling on their NHL teams. 

The Path to Gold for Sweden

The defense will give them a chance. That group can lead the way and make a difference in any type of game. The question is which forward steps up and delivers? They need a few to take over games if they want to win Gold, and some of them can but haven’t proven they can do so yet. Likewise, Filip Gustavsson must outplay the other elite goaltenders in the Olympics and will have his hands full. It’s not an easy path to Gold but it’s there.