Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros has served as Team Finland's unquestioned No. 1 netminder since Tuukka Rask retired, but his continued NHL struggles are leaving the door open for Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to steal the starting job for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Saros has compiled a 2.93 goals against average and .897 save percentage across 31 starts this season. It puts him on track to finish with a SV% below .900 for the second straight year, a mark he'd finished above in each of his first eight full-time NHL campaigns.
The two-time NHL All-Star also struggled for Finland at last year's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. He posted a 3.96 GAA and .870 SV% in two games as the Finns swapped in Kevin Lankinen, Saros' former Preds teammate who now plays for the Vancouver Canucks.
Saros did bounce back with a strong performance in the 2025 IIHF World Championship, recording a 1.67 GAA and .943 SV% in six outings.
Although that's likely enough to pencil the Nashville star atop the initial Finland depth chart for now, the Sabres' recent surge combined with UPL's terrific play as of late could force Suomi head coach Antti Pennanen into a tough decision when the Olympics get underway in February.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could overtake Juuse Saros as the Team Finland starter if the Buffalo Sabres' rapid ascent continues
While there's no doubt Saros is the most accomplished goalie on the Finnish Olympic roster, current form is far more important in a short tournament like the Winter Games.
That's why UPL, who's stopped 76 of the 79 shots he's faced (.962 SV%) over his past three starts, is quickly vaulting himself into the conversation for Finland. If he keeps this up for the next month, he may represent the hot hand Suomi need to seriously compete at the best-on-best international level.
Luukkonen's overall numbers (2.46 GAA and .903 SV%) are modestly better than what Saros has produced — Lankinen (3.41 and .885) is struggling mightily this season and is unlikely to factor in — and there are a couple others factors that weigh in his favor.
First, the Sabres netminder got a late start to the campaign due to a pair of preseason injuries, so there were some poor starts early on that are weighing down his numbers. He's compiled a strong .918 SV% over his last eight starts.
Second, Buffalo was juggling an untenable three-goalie rotation for weeks, which was preventing any of its goalies from finding a rhythm. But then Colten Ellis, who returned in a backup role last game, suffered a concussion and Alex Lyon is now sidelined with a lower-body injury.
That's allowed Luukkonen to regain the Sabres' starting job and, if he's able to maintain this level of play, he'll likely retain it on a full-time basis for the foreseeable future. That's a major shift after it looked like he may become the odd man out earlier in the campaign.
A lot can change in a month, of course. Buffalo has shown that by going from the Eastern Conference basement into a playoff spot. Yet, at minimum, UPL has put himself in the starting conversation.
Ultimately, the job is Saros' to lose and if it's a razor-thin margin between him and Luukkonen ahead of Finland's opening game against Slovakia on Feb. 11, the longtime Predators stalwart will almost surely receive the assignment.
If UPL keeps playing the best hockey of his career, however, and Saros' performance remains underwhelming, Pennanen may be best served trying to ride the wave in the Olympics.
Even though it's a decision that would come with risk, it may be the Finnish side's best chance to keep pace with top contenders Canada, the United States and rival Sweden in Italy.