NHL players fought to return to the Winter Olympics. This week, they’ll get their wish.

And the Colorado Avalanche will be well represented.

Eight members of the burgundy and blue have landed in Milan with the honor of representing their respective countries when the tournament gets underway Wednesday. It’s a new stage for all but one and 14 days that none of them will soon forget.

Team Canada

The favorites in the tournament will see three Avalanche players play key roles for them just like they did a year ago during the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Cale Makar, who was named an assistant captain for Canada on Sunday, led that tournament in time-on-ice and there’s a good chance that will be the case again at the Olympics. Barring a major surprise, he’ll be paired with his usual partner Devon Toews, who also played heavy minutes at the 4 Nations.

All eyes will be on Nathan MacKinnon, though. The 30-year-old center was named the MVP of last year’s tournament and will have another opportunity to cement his legacy in Milan.

“I’m excited,” MacKinnon said last week. “The first thing is just playing with the best players in Canada and being a part of something much bigger than the Avalanche or any NHL team, really. Obviously, hockey in Canada, there’s nothing quite like it. It’s kind of like football down here, so it’s a big deal. A lot of pressure on us and it’s exciting and it kind of brings the whole country together no matter what’s going on.”

Team USA

There were some folks questioning why Brock Nelson was named to Team USA back in early January. It’s safe to say he’s silenced the doubters.

Since Jan. 1, no NHL player has more goals than Nelson’s 13. He’s been red-hot with the puck on his stick and just as good without it. That two-way play will come in handy for the U.S. coaching staff. It’s unlikely that Nelson will be a member of their top six, despite his heater, but his ability to take care of business in his own end will earn him important minutes at the Olympics.

“I’m going to go in with the mentality of doing whatever,” Nelson said. “I feel part of my game is just the ability to be flexible. I played a little bit on the wing before and bounced around, different things like that … but I think for the opportunity that we have to go over there, everybody’s kind of willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to be a part of the group and build the chemistry wherever you settle in.”

Nelson is a third-generation American Olympian in the sport. His uncle, Dave Christian, was a member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team that won gold and his grandfather Bill Christian won gold in 1960.

“It’s special. Anytime you get to represent your country, it’s a great honor,” Nelson said.

Team Sweden

Back in June, Sweden let it be known, at least internally, that Gabriel Landeskog would be their captain at the Olympics. Imagine their panic when the 33-year-old went barreling into the goalpost last month in Florida. Fast forward to Sunday, and Sweden made it official: Landeskog is in Milan and he will wear the C for the Tre Kronor.

Unlike the rest of his Avalanche teammates, Landeskog has done this before. As a 21-year-old, Landeskog was an assistant captain on the 2014 Sweden team that lost in the gold-medal game. Given everything Landeskog has overcome the last few years, they knew exactly who they wanted to be their captain.

“I think the symbolics of Gabe’s journey coming into the tournament, where he has been, what he has done, I know that the rest of the team respects him a ton,” Team Sweden coach Sam Halam told NHL.com.

Landeskog has not played a game since Jan. 4 and there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready for Sweden’s first game Thursday against Italy, although he admitted last week he’s “pretty confident” he’ll be good to go. Like every other member of the Avalanche playing in the Olympics, he’s excited to get the tournament started.

“It’s best-on-best. It’s at the Olympic stage. That’s very exciting,” Landeskog said. “As a kid, I have very fond memories of watching 2006 in Torino and Team Sweden beating Finland in the finals. Those are some really fond memories of mine. I was too young in ’94. Having the opportunity to do that for your country and create memories for new generations of hockey players and really, athletes, that’s exciting.”

Team Finland

Landeskog might remember 2006 fondly. His two Finnish teammates have another view of that game.

“I haven’t really remembered anything else other than the heartbreaking loss vs. Sweden in Torino,” Joel Kiviranta said. “That’s kind of the only memory. I don’t know if it’s a good memory or not.”

Kiviranta and Artturi Lehkonen will represent Finland, a proud nation that takes international tournaments very seriously. Lehkonen making the team was a given. Since arriving in Colorado, he’s been a mainstay in the top six and had the most productive seasons of his career. Kiviranta, however, was not a given to make the team. That’s why this tournament means a little bit more to him.

“It was a special moment (to be named),” Kiviranta said. “I knew that there was a possibility, but at the same time, there’s so many good wingers in the NHL already. And (I) didn’t make 4 Nations last year, so that was (a) big surprise, but it was a special moment. My family was here so it was definitely nice to share that moment with them.”

Kiviranta didn’t put the call on speaker phone. Instead, he gave his family universal signal for good news.

“I was just (fist) pumping,” he joked.

Kiviranta doesn’t know what kind of role he’ll have on the team, but he’s ready for anything.

“If they told me to pick up the pucks, then I’ll pick up the pucks,” he said. “I’ll do whatever. Happy to be there.”

Missing their top center in Alex Barkov, the Finns are underdogs in the tournament. Don’t count them out, though.

“I think we’ve got a really good team,” Lehkonen said. “We know it’s a short tournament. Anything can happen and I think we got a really, really good shot.”

Team Czechia

Martin Necas is expected to be healthy and ready to play for the Czechs when they get their tournament underway Friday against Canada. The winger missed the final three games for the Avalanche prior to the break due to a lower-body injury, but it’s not believed to be serious.

Although the 27-year-old has never played at the Olympics, he has won and played an important role for his country on the international stage. Necas and the Czechs took home gold at the 2024 World Championships, with the speedy winger putting up seven points in the five games he was able to play after his Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated from the postseason.

The Czechs don’t quite have the stable of talent they had well over a decade ago, particularly on defense, but if anything is going to be keep them in this tournament, it’ll be their goaltending. Lukas Dostal and Karel Vejmelka have the ability to steal games if they get hot.