The Colorado Avalanche will have a strong presence at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano and Cortina. Earlier today, national federations confirmed that top tree avalanche key stars will represent their countries on the Olympic stage. They will all be making their Olympic debuts, while Avalanche captain returns for his second appearance, having previously earned a silver medal in 2014.
This marks the return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time since 2014 and their sixth overall participation (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014). Canada claimed gold in 2002, 2010, and 2014, while Sweden won in 2006 and Czechia in 1998.
MacKinnon and Landeskog also have a chance to join the prestigious Triple Gold Club, a group of just 30 players who have captured a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal, and an IIHF World Championship gold. Both won the Stanley Cup in 2022; MacKinnon added a world title in 2015, while Landeskog did so in 2017. Notable former Avalanche players in the club include Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Rob Blake.
Most recently, at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025, MacKinnon and Makar led Canada to victory, with MacKinnon earning MVP honors.