Zurab Talakvadze

Switzerland was eliminated 2:3 in a tight battle against Finland in the ongoing Winter Olympics. Switzerland was leading 2:0, but could not hold the edge in the closing minutes, as Finland roared back and tied the score, before closing out the context. They deserved the better, but got the worse. In fact, the worst. Switzerland was sent back. And the Man who propelled the team during the tournament as a leader and a vocal force, was the star of Nashville Predators Roman Josi.

Roman is a machine. The one that never breaks and the one, that earned his respect by example. Josi is still an afterthought, when we are counting down the world’s best defenders in ice hockey, but boy, this man is a perfect leader on and off the ice.

A son Doris and Peter Josi, he grew up in an athletic household, as his father was a former soccer player and mother – a national team swimmer. Roman had to choose between soccer and ice hockey and fortunately for Switzerland and NHL, he decided to become an ice warrior.

Josi was the best defender of this Olympics. Josi was the beast when his team was playing 4 on 5 and he was setting the tone when Switzerland had a power play. Roman was scoring, Roman was defending, he was blocking the shots and Josi was the creator on ice covered with blood.

Switzerland was the darling of last few Ice Hockey World Championships. They came so close, but the gold went the other way.  Josi, who had his Olympic debut back in 2014, went pointless that time, but he was scorching in Milano. He was the smiling terror for his country, who lost one of the leaders, forward Kevin Fiala (LA Kings) due to some grueling injury during the group stage play. And still, they did not lost their composure and they were the disciplined machine, that finally broke down versus Finland. Roman was still the Man.

Josi was the joker for Switzerland at the 2024 World Championships, when they breezed past the competition in to the finals only to be stopped by the mighty USA squad full of stars. They lost 1:5 to Canada in Milano, but played with style in other games, featuring the clash with medal favorite Czech Republic with an all time great Daid Pastrnak (Boston) in the mix. Josi was the best player in that (4:3, O.T) bloody mess.

Roman signed an eight-year. 72.4 million contract extension with Nashville before the start of 2019-2020 season and he rewarded the team by having the best season of his great career by winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s best defensemen. He set career highs in goals, assists and points and became the first Predators player and Swiss to win this trophy.

Roman is a warrior. Roman is a star. And even if Switzerland was eliminated from this Winter Olympics, Josi was still the Man. A proud son of his family, a vocal leader of Switzerland, who is beloved in Nashville, NHL and all around the World.

Roman belongs to the list of an all time greats. A legend. A patriot. The beast.