“When I heard [Team USA general manager Bill Guerin] say I was on the team, just kind of a big sigh of relief, excitement, a bunch of different emotions going through you at the same time,” Thompson told Buffalo’s website. “It is a goal I have worked towards for a very long time and dreamt of as a kid. For it to be coming true now is pretty special.”
Rounding out the Buffalo group is 25-year-old Finnish goaltender Luukkonen, who has emerged statistically as one of the NHL’s best this season. His strong performances for the Buffalo Sabres has positioned him as a key option in net for Finland at Milano Cortina 2026.
For all three NHL players, Dahlin, Thompson, and Luukkonen, the chance to represent Sweden, the United States and Finland is a deeply personal honour. Competing at the Olympic Winter Games is a career highlight, and each will take the ice in Italy with national pride and a shared goal of reaching the podium.