It\u2019s another installment of Mile High Pollster! There are eight different Avalanche players representing four different nations in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, and so this edition is all about the winter games!<\/p>\n
With Avalanche players among so many teams, who will Avs fans root for? How will the break affect the Avalanche season? Who will leave Italy as an international hockey legend and win the tournament\u2019s MVP? Do Avs fans still want to root for Artturi Lehkonen, Mikko Rantanen, and Finland, or is it just too soon?<\/p>\n
Team Canada is no easy choice for most Avalanche fans, with Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews representing the Maple Leaf. As the kids say, Brock Nelson will be wheezing his way around the ice for Team USA, and the Marty party is among Czechia\u2019s best. Gabe Landeskog sustained a rib injury heading in, but is all set to captain the crown in Sweden, and last but definitely not least, Artturi Lehkonen and his good stick will accompany Joel Kiviranta for Team Finland.<\/p>\n
One thing is for sure: Avalanche fans will have a vested interest in lots of these games in the preliminary rounds, but will have to pledge their allegiance once the elimination portion of the tournament begins.<\/p>\n
For now, they are singing the Star Spangled Banner.<\/p>\n
Team USA\u2019s Brock Nelson had this to say ahead of tournament play in an article by Coby Maeir<\/a>, \u201cAnytime you get to represent your country, I think it\u2019s a great honor.\u201d<\/p>\n Obviously, not every member of the Avalanche will make the trip, and with that comes the age-old debate of rest or rust, but with a bit of a wrinkle this time.<\/p>\n Players not in the tournament will play the rest vs. rust game, but players participating will hope to stay healthy and lock in like it\u2019s already hockey in June. For now, Avalanche fans see the opportunity for rest as the most likely help-or-hurt scenario for Colorado.<\/p>\n