Finland’s Best Player Has Been Juuse Saros
With the 2026 Winter Olympics coming to the semifinal round, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button joined SportsCenter with Sarah Davis and was asked who the most dangerous players were for Canada and Finland.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
IIHF President Hopes Russia and Belarus Will Be Back as Soon as Possible
Sarah Davis: “Okay, Craig. Now, let’s shift our focus to the other semifinal, starting with Finland.”
Craig Button: Juuse Saros is a top notch goaltender, and he alone can win a game. And for Finland, short-handed, without (Aleksander) Sasha Barkov, they got a lot of offensive weapons, and they know how to play as a unit, but when they break down, Juuse Saros can be that guy. And when you think about upsets in the Olympics at these types of competitions, you need a goaltender that can stand on his head. Juuse Saross can do all of that and more. So you’ve got to find a way to solve him if you’re Canada, but Juuse Saros has to be Finland’s most dangerous player.”
NHLRumors.com Note: Saros has been the reason why Finland has gotten to this point. He made an error in the quarterfinals that could have cost Finland against Switzerland when he turned the puck over. However, he settled in and allowed his teammates to mount a comeback in the third period. Juuse Saros had to be Finland’s best player in order for guys like Arturri Lehkonen, Miro Heiskanen, Sebastian Aho, Anton Lundell, and others to deliver in the big moments.
Connor McDavid or Macklin Celebrini: Who has Been More Dangerous?
Davis: “Okay, and let’s finish with Canada, Craig. It really seems like a two-horse race between Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebriani, considering how much they’ve done in this tournament. So you going with youth or experience?
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Thrive Under Pressure
Button: “Oh, it’s Connor McDavid all the way. He’s the planet’s best player, and he has taken the Olympic stage, and he has owned it. He has owned it in every regard. He’s owned it. From the first shift of the first game, he set a tone physically, he has been dangerous just about every time he’s been out on the ice. And you see how the games have become more significant. The challenges become greater. And this is no shrinking violet in Connor McDavid. In the absence of, potentially, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid is going to be asked to do more. No problem whatsoever for Connor McDavid. Because when he’s asked to do more, he always delivers.”
NHLRumors.com Note: It is Connor McDavid all the way, and it is not even close. He is delivering for Canada. McDavid has tied Teemu Selanne‘s and Saku Koivu‘s record for most points in a single Olympics involving NHL players with 11. There is a good chance he is breaking the record in the semifinal game. Right behind him is Macklin Celebrini with nine points as a 19-year-old. Mitch Marner and Nick Suzuki came up big as well. Not to mention Jordan Binnington has made the saves he needed to, but it is McDavid all the way because of what he can do with his speed and puck skills.
The semifinal game between Canada and Finland happens on Friday morning. It will be a tall order for Canada as they will play without Sidney Crosby.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league. We’re also posting some stuff on Instagram.
