He has represented Switzerland nine times at the IIHF World Championship, helping secure three of the four medals the country has won over the past 71 years (silver in 2013, 2018 and 2024).
“We need to play a good team game at the Olympics,” Josi said. “I think when you look at the top teams and the players they have, we’ll need to play as a team. I think that’s one of our strengths. We know each other pretty well and a lot of the guys played together at World Championship. Even at the Worlds, every time we had success it was because we played a really structured, good team game. I think it won’t be any different at the Olympics.”
Josi became the first Swiss player to claim MVP honors at the IIHF 2013 World Championship after leading the country to its first gold medal game at the event in more than 75 years.
In 2024, he captained the club and led all defensemen in scoring (12 points; three goals, nine assists in 10 games) at Worlds to earn best defenseman and All-Star Team honors for a second straight year at the tournament.
“Just the momentum we have from World Championship the past two years with the way we played gives us some motivation,” Josi said. “Obviously the Olympics is kind of a different animal, but it’s really cool to have everyone there. It’s kind of the first time that we’re all together.”
Josi became the first Predators player to reach 1,000 NHL games with the franchise on Jan. 22 and became the 25th defenseman in NHL history to reach the 200-goal milestone when he scored the game-winner in a 4-3 win at the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Team Switzerland coach Patrick Fischer is glad to have players like Josi pushing the pace.
“The leaders of a group have the power to really put a lot of momentum into the group or can destroy it,” Fischer said. “We know it’s always team first. We don’t expect too many, let’s say, cherry-pickers. We don’t want that because it’s not good for the group and having players like Josi (and forwards) Hischier, Nino Niederreiter (Winnipeg Jets), Kevin Fiala (Los Angeles Kings), Timo Meier (Devils), Jonas Siegenthaler (Devils) … they’re great team players. They understand their roles of leadership and know that success comes from playing together and taking responsibility as a unit.
“I’m super happy they’re all a part of this roster because that makes the coaching staff’s lives much easier.”
