There are seven players on the Colorado Avalanche who were pretty easy selections to represent their country at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Sure, there was some initial backlash about Brock Nelson with the United States team, but a lot of that was people wrongly lumping him in with a couple of other g uys who probably should have been left off the roster in favor of more dynamic players. Nelson has more than earned it with his superlative play this season. That said, there are eight members of the Avs going to Italy to play in the first Olympic tournament to feature NHL players since 2014. The one guy on the bubble who made it is Joel Kiviranta, who will play for Finland in Italy. “It was a special moment,” Kiviranta said. “I knew there was a possibility for that, but at the same time, I was like, there are so many good (Finnish) wingers in the NHL. And I didn’t make it for Four Nations last year, so that was a bit of a surprise.” Meet the Coloradans headed to the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics When Kiviranta answered his phone and someone from Team Suomi congratulated him for becoming an Olympian, he was able to celebrate with family members who had recently arrived in Denver. Displays of emotion are rare for Kiviranta on the ice, but there was no doubt that it was good news for the other people in the room. "I was just pumping my fist," Kiviranta said, with a vigorous replay for added effect. "So they knew." It is one of the crowning achievements of Kiviranta's career to date, up there with his hat trick against the Avs for the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of the second-round series between the rivals in 2020 and winning the IIHF World Championships in 2019. It's also rarely been easy for the soon-to-be 30-year-old Kiviranta, who is in his third season with the Avalanche and on his third consecutive one-year contract. "I was excited for him," Avs coach Jared Bednar said. "There was talk last year at the Four Nations that he could possibly be a guy that goes. He had a great year last year. He's missed some time for us this year, but it goes to show you that when you're putting together a team, you need guys to do every job. "Kivy is a pretty well-rounded, 200-foot player. I think he's got an offensive game that we see flashes of, depending on his ice time, linemates, etc. But he's a super responsible guy, a really strong penalty killer, skates well. They need him to go there and play a role, and he's willing to go and do it. I couldn't be happier for him, because he's a really good pro." Last year was a breakout season for Kiviranta. He had 16 goals — doubling his previous career-best with the Stars in 2022-23 — and set new marks in assists (7), points (23), games played (79) and average time on ice (12:31). He wasn't an everyday player for the Avs in Year 1 with the club, but the rash of injuries last season gave him a chance to prove himself as a consistent performer in a bottom-six role with this group. Even after the Avs added reinforcements at the trade deadline and Gabe Landeskog's mid-series return, Kiviranta was in the lineup for all seven games against Dallas in the 2025 playoffs, ahead of multiple forwards with more NHL experience. "The time I have spent here has leveled up my confidence and my game overall," Kiviranta said. "I think it's a huge impact. The way we play here. The way we live here. Everything that we do here is so high level, so I think that's helped a lot." Kiviranta has not kept up the same scoring pace this season, and he's missed nearly half the Avalanche's games. But, injuries to Aleksander Barkov and Patrik Laine opened two spots, and there is an extra forward slot at the Olympics compared to the Four Nations event a year ago. That meant opportunities for Oliver Kapanen, Eeli Tolvanen and Kiviranta. "I've played against him a lot," Ducks forward and soon-to-be Olympic teammate Mikael Granlund said. "He works really hard, but what makes him effective in this league is he's smart. He can play different roles. He's going to be playing a winning hockey style. That's why he's been able to pretty successful." Kiviranta isn't flashy, but he's dependable. Bednar is the latest coach to enjoy having Kiviranta on his roster, because he's going to be in the right spots and is an effective player without the puck in the NHL. He and Artturi Lehkonen have some similarities, though Kiviranta is unlikely to ever produce at that level. Still, they both embody many of the traits that help so many Finnish players become trustworthy, dependable members of NHL clubs. Related Articles Why Avalanche ‘sacrificial lamb’ Artturi Lehkonen is your favorite player’s favorite player Keeler: Get well at Winter Olympics, Gabriel Landeskog. Avalanche haven’t been same without you. Avalanche still NHL’s pacesetter at Winter Olympics break, but pack is creeping closer Avalanche’s Brock Nelson is a third-generation Olympian, following in gold medal footsteps Avalanche shake off blown lead, reach Olympic break with 4-2 win against Sharks It's also what helps the small country succeed in international hockey so often, even in circumstances when they probably should not. That 2019 Finland team at the world championships did not have nearly the NHL presence on its roster that a few other nations did, but still won the tournament. "Yeah, that's for sure we Finns pride ourselves on," Granlund said. "It's whatever it takes. Whatever makes the team better, whatever makes the team win. It's never about us, and it's always about the team. We're really proud of that, and that's why at international tournaments we usually do pretty well. We come together and it's never about one person. It's all about the team doing all the little things the right way, and hopefully it can give us an advantage." As for Kiviranta, he may begin the 2026 Olympics as Finland's 13th or 14th forward. That could mean being in the lineup, but not much ice time. It could mean being the one guy who is a healthy scratch. If he's needed to play in a bigger role as the tournament advances, he'll be ready and dependable as ever. "If they told me to pick up the pucks, then I will pick up the pucks," Kiviranta said. "I will do whatever. I am just happy to be there." Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis. ...read more read less