MILAN — Team Finland crushed Italy 11-0 on Saturday, almost certainly securing a bye to the Olympic quarterfinals despite a second-place finish in Group B, but the writing already looks like it’s on the wall for coach Antti Pennanen.
A bombshell report Friday in Ilta-Sanomat, the largest newspaper in Finland, said NHL players on Finland’s roster went to management over the summer asking for Pennanen to be replaced by Panthers coach Paul Maurice for the Olympics following a disastrous showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February.
Finland general manager Jere Lehtinen confirmed to the newspaper that he was aware of the situation.
Maurice, reportedly, did not reject the idea.
“I actually didn’t even hear about it [before Friday],” Panthers wing Eetu Luostarinen, one of four Finns on Florida’s roster, said following the Italy game. “I think we have great management, great coaches, players here, so we just have to focus on the tournament. Going as far as we can.”
Alternate captain Mikko Rantanen claimed he had only heard the rumor from Finnish reporters.
“I’ve never heard of it,” he said.
One way or another, though, the sharks are circling in Finnish media.
A second outlet, Siniviiva, claimed that rumors about player discontent has been circling in Finnish hockey circles “for a long time” and that despite signing an extension through the spring of 2027 before the Olympics, “there are no conditions for him to continue” after the Olympics.
Of course, Finland still has the Olympics to worry about, and just won back-to-back games against archrival Sweden and Italy, the latter by a ridiculous 11-goal margin.
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
Rules surrounding preliminary rounds incentivized the Finns to keep pouring on goals to try and secure a bye to the quarters.
If Finland can match its 2022 gold medal, it’s hard to imagine there would still be calls for Pennanen’s head, but needless to say, the situation is less than ideal for him.
Pennanen declined comment on the matter to Finnish reporters Friday.
