As Olympic preparations ramp up ahead of the Milano-Cortina Games, national teams are starting to reveal their initial line combinations-and with that, we’re getting a clearer picture of how the Colorado Avalanche’s eight Olympians will be deployed on the world stage. From top-line assignments to depth roles, here’s a breakdown of where each Avs player fits into their respective national teams as camp practices kick into gear.
Team Canada: MacKinnon Driving His Own Line, Makar-Toews Reunited
Let’s start with the powerhouse that is Team Canada. One of the biggest early takeaways?
Nathan MacKinnon isn’t skating alongside Sidney Crosby-at least not yet. Instead, MacKinnon is centering his own line, flanked by Brad Marchand and Nick Suzuki.
It’s a bit of a shift from the 4 Nations tournament, where MacKinnon and Crosby frequently alternated between center and wing on the same line.
This time around, Canada is leaning into its depth down the middle, with Crosby anchoring the third line and MacKinnon the second. That gives head coach Jon Cooper a lethal 1-2-3 punch at center-Connor Bedard’s early chemistry with Connor McDavid and Tom Wilson headlines the top unit.
But let’s be real: if Cooper wants to reunite the Nova Scotian duo of Crosby and MacKinnon, it’s an easy in-game adjustment. Suzuki could slide down to the third line, and suddenly you’ve got a Crosby-MacKinnon-Marchand trio that could tilt the ice.
On the back end, Canada’s top pairing features a familiar duo for Avalanche fans-Cale Makar and Devon Toews. No surprises here.
These two have been one of the NHL’s most dominant pairings for years, and they’re expected to log heavy minutes throughout the tournament. Makar’s blend of elite skating and vision, paired with Toews’ steady two-way game, gives Canada a foundation few teams can match.
Canada’s first practice lines:
- Forwards: Bedard - McDavid - Wilson Marchand - MacKinnon - Suzuki Stone - Crosby - Marner Hagel - Horvat - Reinhart Extras: Jarvis, Bennett
- Defense: Toews - Makar Morrissey - Parayko Harley - Doughty Theodore - Sanheim
Team USA: Nelson Starts on the Fourth Line
Brock Nelson has been thriving in a second-line center role with the Avalanche this season, but on a stacked Team USA roster, he’s starting out in a more limited role. At the Americans’ first practice, Nelson was centering the fourth line between J.T.
Miller and Jack Hughes. Vincent Trocheck also rotated in at center during drills, so that fourth-line spot could still be fluid.
With Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, and Dylan Larkin locking down the top three center spots, Nelson’s position isn’t surprising. But his versatility and two-way game make him a valuable piece in any role-especially in a short tournament where depth often separates medal contenders from the rest.
Team USA’s first practice lines:
- Forwards: Tkachuk - Eichel - Tkachuk Guentzel - Matthews - Boldy Connor - Larkin - Thompson Miller - Nelson - Hughes Extra: Keller
- Defense: Hughes - McAvoy Slavin - Faber Sanderson - Werenski LaCombe - Hanifin
- Goalie: Hellebuyck (in his own net during drills)
Team Finland: Lehkonen in Middle-Six Role, Kiviranta on Standby
Artturi Lehkonen is no stranger to international play, and he’s once again expected to play a key role for Finland. He’s slotted on the second line alongside Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen-a trio that brings a nice mix of speed, skill, and defensive awareness.
Joel Kiviranta also made the roster, a bit of a surprise inclusion, but he’s starting off as an extra forward. If he gets into the lineup, expect him to bring the high-energy, relentless forechecking game Avalanche fans know well.
As for the top line, Finland is leaning on chemistry. Mikko Rantanen, now with Dallas, is reunited with Roope Hintz and Mikael Granlund-his former linemates and now Finland’s top trio. Granlund will wear the captain’s “C.”
Finland’s first practice lines:
- Forwards: Rantanen - Hintz - Granlund Lehkonen - Aho - Teravainen Luostarinen - Lundell - Kakko Tolvanen - Haula - Armia Extras: Kapanen, Kiviranta
- Defense: Heiskanen - Lindell Mikkola - Ristolainen Määttä - Jokiharju Lehtonen - Matinpalo
- Goalies: Saros, Lankinen, Korpisalo
Team Sweden: Landeskog Returns, Starts on Fourth Line
After a long layoff, Gabriel Landeskog is back on the ice-and back in a Swedish jersey. He hasn’t played in over a month, so it’s no shock to see him start on the fourth line. He skated with Pontus Holmberg and either Alex Wennberg or Marcus Johansson during Sweden’s first practice.
Whether he stays there is another story. Landeskog’s leadership, physicality, and ability to elevate his linemates could earn him more minutes as the tournament progresses. And speaking of leadership, Sweden confirmed Landeskog will serve as team captain.
Sweden’s first practice lines:
- Forwards: Kempe - Eriksson Ek - Nylander Bratt/Forsberg - Lindholm - Raymond Pettersson - Zibanejad - Rakell Landeskog - Holmberg - Wennberg/Johansson
- Defense: Forsling - Dahlin Hedman - Andersson Broberg - Karlsson Ekman-Larsson - Lindholm
Team Czechia: Pastrnak Line Leads the Way, Sedlak in the Mix
No surprises at the top for Team Czechia-David Pastrnak, Tomas Hertl, and Martin Necas headline the first line and are expected to carry the offensive load. With Pavel Zacha sidelined due to injury, the Czechs had to rework their center depth.
David Kampf has been bumped up to the second-line center role, skating with Ondrej Palat and Ondrej Kase. Former Avalanche forward Lukas Sedlak is anchoring the third line, offering a reliable two-way presence.
Expect heavy minutes for the top line, but Czechia’s depth will be tested as the tournament unfolds.
Czechia’s first practice lines:
- Forwards: Necas - Hertl - Pastrnak Palat - Kampf - Kase Cervenka - Sedlak - Tomasek Stransky - Faksa - Kubalik
- Defense: Hronek - Simek Kempny - Gudas Spacek - Rutta
As the Milano-Cortina Games draw closer, these initial lineups offer a glimpse into how each nation plans to deploy its NHL stars-and how Avalanche players fit into the bigger picture. Whether it's MacKinnon driving play for Canada, Makar anchoring the blue line, or Landeskog making his return for Sweden, Colorado's Olympic contingent is poised to make a major impact. Stay tuned-these combinations may evolve, but the talent is undeniable.