Multiple Florida Panthers players make Finland's Olympic team

It really is official now: the NHL News post from @NHLMedia is tied to NHL.com's full Team Finland reveal for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, and Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola are all on the named roster.

Lundell and Luostarinen give Finland that Panthers-style two-way spine up front, the kind of detail-heavy checking that wins short tournaments when the ice shrinks and every third-period shift is a grind.

Mikkola's inclusion is just as loud, because Finland is leaning into big, mobile defenders who can kill entries early and keep the slot clean, and NHL.com specifically points to his growth with Florida as a key part of that blue-line strength.

Start with Anton Lundell, the 24-year-old drafted 12th overall by Florida in 2020, and already a playoff-tested two-way center. He has 13 goals and 31 points in 39 games this season, and he carries a $5 million cap hit.

The Olympic case is simple, Lundell plays «under the puck» and doesn't cheat, which is exactly how Finland wins tight games. He also put up 17 points in 24 games during the 2024 playoffs, including five assists over seven Final games.

From a Panthers fan seat, this feels earned, Finland is rewarding the guys who win the boring minutes.

Eetu Luostarinen is the sneaky swing piece, because he can play wing or center and he lives on the penalty kill. Last spring he had nine goals and 24 points in 80 games, then exploded for 19 points in 23 playoff games.

He's also locked in at a $3 million cap hit, which tells you Florida values that Swiss-army usage even when the scoresheet is quiet. This season he's at 18 points in 31 games, and the motor still looks the same shift to shift.

Niko Mikkola is the blue-line version of the same idea, big, mobile, and hard to play through on entries. He has six points in 39 games this season, and he's still only a $2.5 million cap hit before his eight-year extension kicks in at $5 million per year.

His resume pop is last season, career highs of six goals, 16 assists, and 22 points in 76 games, plus heavy hits and blocks during another long run. Finland coaches love defenders who can kill plays early, then make the first pass clean.

And yes, this Panthers-Finland overlap isn't new, all three were on Finland's NHL best-on-best roster too, which matters when you're building a short tournament lineup. It's the same DNA, protect the slot, pressure the walls, and let skill guys do damage off turnovers.

If Finland wants a medal in Italy, Lundell, Luostarinen, and Mikkola look like the glue pieces, and Panthers fans should enjoy every detail of that spotlight.