Zemgus Girgensons, the Buffalo Sabres' gritty Latvian captain who's seen it all in NHL trenches, declares this the best Latvian squad ever assembled - and they're only warming up. With talents like him leading the charge from North American rinks, Latvia's international game surges to new heights after recent showings that turned heads. Girgensons knows the pipeline runs deep, blending NHL polish with emerging stars hungry for more ice time on the world stage.

Zemgus Girgensons, the Buffalo Sabres' gritty Latvian forward, steps up to the mic after his national team's opening Olympic loss to a stacked Team USA. He doesn't hold back on the chances they coughed up against a squad loaded with NHL stars like Auston Matthews and the Hughes brothers. With Latvia already staring down a tough group, Girgensons' candid take hints at the adjustments they need to claw back into medal contention before facing tougher foes.