The Colorado Avalanche are getting encouraging news on the international front - even if it won’t help them tonight.
Head coach Jared Bednar shared Wednesday on Denver’s Altitude Sports Radio that both Gabriel Landeskog and Martin Necas are expected to be healthy and ready to represent their countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. That’s a big win for Sweden and Czechia, respectively. But for the Avalanche, it comes with a caveat: neither forward will be in the lineup for Wednesday night’s matchup against the San Jose Sharks.
Let’s start with Landeskog - the longtime Avs captain and emotional heartbeat of the team. Through 41 games this season, he’s posted seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. Those numbers may not jump off the page, but they represent something far more meaningful: Landeskog is finally back playing regular-season hockey after a grueling stretch that saw him miss nearly three full seasons due to a chronic knee injury.
This is his first full campaign since 2021-22, and just seeing him back on the ice has been a lift for Colorado. The 6-foot-1 winger, taken second overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, has been a model of consistency throughout his career, racking up 255 goals and 338 assists for 593 points in 779 regular-season games. In the postseason, he’s been just as impactful - with 28 goals and 43 assists in 74 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.
And of course, Avalanche fans will never forget his last game before the long layoff: Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, when Landeskog raised the Cup after a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. That spring, he was a force - tallying 11 goals and 11 assists in 20 playoff games.
But shortly after the championship parade, the knee issues intensified. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in the summer of 2022, missed the entire 2022-23 season, and then had a cartilage transplant in May 2023, sidelining him for all of 2023-24.
Now, after a long and uncertain road, Landeskog is back in the mix - and on track to suit up for Sweden in Milano-Cortina. That’s a storyline worth following as the Olympic tournament draws closer.
On the other side of the coin, Martin Necas has been nothing short of electric this season. In 52 games, the 27-year-old has racked up 22 goals and 40 assists - good for 62 points.
That kind of production is exactly what Colorado hoped for when they acquired him in a blockbuster three-team deal involving the Hurricanes and Blackhawks. The trade saw Mikko Rantanen and Taylor head to Carolina, while Necas and Jack Drury came to the Avalanche.
Shortly after arriving in Denver, Necas signed a massive eight-year, $92 million contract extension - locking him in through the 2033-34 season at an $11.5 million AAV. That’s a big commitment, but so far, he’s playing up to the price tag.
Now in his ninth NHL season, the former 12th overall pick from the 2017 draft has amassed 146 goals and 242 assists for 388 points in 493 career games, split between Carolina and Colorado. He’s also logged 35 points in 66 playoff games, showing he can bring it when the stakes are highest.
Necas is expected to be a key piece for Czechia in Italy, and given his current form, he could be one of the tournament’s breakout stars.
While the Avalanche will be without both Landeskog and Necas against San Jose, the bigger picture is clear: two of their top forwards are trending in the right direction, and their countries are getting ready to welcome them on the Olympic stage. For Colorado, that’s a sign of health, depth, and international pedigree - all of which could pay dividends down the stretch this season.