Avalanche will have plenty of Olympic reps, more players named to rosters

The Colorado Avalanche will be well represented in the Olympics next month.

Three more guys got the nod on Friday, joining Devon Toews, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar who were already announced for Team Canada. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is on Team Sweden.

Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Kiviranta will play for Team Finland while Brock Nelson will suit up for Team USA.

Brock is a LOCK for Team USA 🔒 pic.twitter.com/opIVJogBl6

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 2, 2026

Team Finland is feeling Lehky 🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/zae6k2lF2K

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 2, 2026

Joel Kiviranta is taking things to Europe! pic.twitter.com/bN6WRxmjiq

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 2, 2026

This is set to be the sixth consecutive instance where the NHL sent players to the Olympic Games that the Avalanche have had one player represent the Stars and Stripe. In this case, it’ll be Nelson, who Colorado traded for from the Islanders last season then signed a lucrative extension to stay with the Avs last summer. 

Nelson, 34, has recorded 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) over all 39 games in 2025-26, his first full season in Colorado. 

Meanwhile, the Avs have not had a player compete for Team Finland in the Olympics since 2006 when Antti Laaksonen and Ossi Vaananen went, although Vaananen did not play due to injury. Lehkonen and Kiviranta change that, also teaming up with old friend Mikko Rantanen who nows plays for the Dallas Stars. 

Lehkonen, 30, has appeared in all 39 games for the Avs and has tallied 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) this season. Kiviranta, 29, has recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in 21 games for the Avalanche in 2025-26, his third season with the organization. 

Goalies Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood unfortunately weren’t picked for Team Canada, despite both having stellar years. The Avs beat up on Jordan Binnington and the Blues the other night, who got the selection over Blackwood and Wedgewood.

The Olympic hockey tournament for the men is set to run Feb. 11 – 22, with Avalanche fans having plenty of their own guys to root on.

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