Colorado Avalanche eye Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup as NHL-best record is put to final test

The Colorado Avalanche resume their NHL season this week with the kind of momentum that very few teams can lay claim to. Having just completed the 2026 Winter Olympics, eight members of the team will return to their roster, six of whom are Olympic medal winners, as the league’s best team turns its attention back to a Stanley Cup championship.

Among the returning players is new Olympic gold medalist Brock Nelson, who led Team USA to a championship in Milan. Joining Nelson on the return list are Canadian superstars Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews, who all brought home silver medals. Rounding out the Colorado Avalanche returnees are Finnish forwards Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Kiviranta, who both took home bronze medals. Every member of the Colorado Avalanche who laced up their skates in Milan scored at least once during the tournament.

The Olympic-laden roster is back in a team that is already running away with the league. The Colorado Avalanche have the NHL’s best record and are now in pursuit of their fourth Presidents’ Trophy, which is given annually to the league’s top regular-season team. However, with playoff seeding at stake, the focus is on sustaining this level of play while bringing back players who have been competing at the international level for weeks.

The Avalanche’s identity is still centered on MacKinnon’s playmaking and scoring prowess. Alongside captain Gabriel Landeskog and Norris-level defenseman Makar, Colorado’s core group is still one of the most well-rounded in the sport. Their speed, scoring, and mobility have made them the betting favorite to hoist the Stanley Cup, followed by the likes of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes.

The Olympic win may also bolster the Avalanche’s locker room. Players are not only returning with medals but also with experience and confidence gained from high-pressure performances on the international stage, which often carry over well to the playoffs.

Colorado begins its campaign Wednesday on the road against the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City, marking the beginning of what the organization hopes will be a dominant finish to the season. With the best record in the league, cup favorites, and a roster full of Olympic momentum, the Avalanche head into the final stretch of the season with lofty expectations, among the highest of any team in the league.

If their key players can remain healthy and the chemistry continues, Colorado will be chasing not only another Presidents’ Trophy but potentially positioning itself for a championship spring that will solidify this roster as one of the NHL’s all-time great dynasties.