Colorado Avalanche Resume NHL Season with Olympic Medal Momentum
The Colorado Avalanche resume their NHL season this week with a level of momentum that very few teams in the league can claim. Fresh off the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, eight members of the team are returning to the roster, with six of them having secured Olympic medals. As the NHL's top-performing team, the Avalanche are now shifting their focus back to the ultimate prize: the Stanley Cup championship.
Olympic Medal Winners Boost Avalanche Roster
Among the returning players is Brock Nelson, who led Team USA to a gold medal victory in Milan. Nelson's achievement adds significant firepower to the Avalanche lineup. He is joined by Canadian superstars Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews, all of whom brought home silver medals from the Olympics. Rounding out the returnees are Finnish forwards Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Kiviranta, who both earned bronze medals. Impressively, every Avalanche player who competed in Milan scored at least one goal during the tournament, showcasing their offensive prowess on the international stage.
Stanley Cup Favorites with League's Best Record
The Colorado Avalanche are already running away with the league, boasting the NHL's best record. They are now in pursuit of their fourth Presidents' Trophy, awarded annually to the team with the top regular-season performance. However, with playoff seeding at stake, the focus is on sustaining this high level of play while integrating players who have been competing internationally for weeks. The Avalanche's identity remains centered on Nathan MacKinnon's exceptional playmaking and scoring abilities. Alongside captain Gabriel Landeskog and Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman Cale Makar, Colorado's core group is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded in the sport.
Their combination of speed, scoring, and mobility has made them the betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup, with teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes trailing closely behind. The Olympic experience may also provide a significant boost to the Avalanche's locker room dynamics. Players are returning not only with medals but also with valuable experience and confidence gained from high-pressure performances on the international stage, which often translates well to the intensity of NHL playoffs.
Season Resumes with High Expectations
Colorado begins its post-Olympic campaign on Wednesday with a road game against the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City. This marks the start of what the organization hopes will be a dominant finish to the season. With the best record in the league, status as Cup favorites, and a roster brimming with Olympic momentum, the Avalanche enter the final stretch with lofty expectations that are among the highest of any team in the NHL.
If key players can maintain their health and team chemistry continues to thrive, Colorado will be chasing not only another Presidents' Trophy but also positioning itself for a championship run this spring. Such success could solidify this roster as one of the NHL's all-time great dynasties, cementing their legacy in hockey history.
