With the announcement that NHL players will be able to participate in the next two Winter Olympics, attention immediately turned toward which players will be most likely to represent their respective countries. It’s the first time the NHL will participate in the Olympics since 2014.
When the best players in the world face off against each other in international competition, that’s good news for the Colorado Avalanche. A number of players on the team’s current roster have a good shot of being selected for the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy – and they could have a big impact on what happens in the tournament. Here’s a look at Avs players who should be considered.
MacKinnon Leads List of Obvious Selections
If Canada’s roster doesn’t include Nathan MacKinnon, it means that something drastic happened to the superstar forward or those selecting the team lost their collective minds. He’s been one of the most dangerous players in the NHL for years, and if this season is any indication, that’s not going to change by 2026. The Nova Scotia native is one of the best players on the planet, should be one of the first names chosen, and will have a direct impact on how Canada fares.
There’s another obvious selection right on MacKinnon’s scoring line. Mikko Rantanen has emerged as thrilling scorer in his own right, and will almost certainly be on the top line for Finland in the 2026 tournament. He’s on the doorstep of his fourth consecutive 30-goal season – and the only thing that stopped it from being six straight was a global pandemic. He’ll make an impact for Finland, and the rest of the world will get to see what Avalanche fans have known for a long time – that Rantanen is one of the best players in the world.
Related: Mikko Rantanen Having Overlooked Season for Avalanche
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Canada will have another clear option from Colorado on the blue line in Cale Makar. Along with Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, Makar is one of the favorites to win the Norris Trophy this season (which would be his second), and is one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the world at any position. He’s currently frozen from playing internationally while Canada sorts out a sexual assault investigation stemming from the 2018 national junior hockey team. While 22 players from that roster have been suspended during the investigation, Makar has denied any involvement, has…
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