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Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon Gets Candid About Canada's 2026 Olympics Mindset

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 5:55 AM ET

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon is preparing for a unique challenge with Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

That's because he and most of the players from his generation have never been able to participate in the Olympics, with NHL players blocked from appearing in such events since 2014.

Speaking at Canada’s orientation camp in Calgary, MacKinnon reflected on his first experiences wearing the national jersey earlier this year, while acknowledging that representing Canada will come with high pressure and revealing the nation's mindset.

“Yeah, (playing in a major event with Canada) is something I’ve never experienced until the 4 Nations, just the whole country rooting for you,” MacKinnon said. “But there’s a lot of pressure as well. I mean, for us, it’s gold or bust, which is a great feeling."

Nathan MacKinnon chats about his days with the @HFXMooseheads, their Memorial Cup run, and the chance he’ll have of wearing the maple leaf at the Olympics!

(: @TheWHL) pic.twitter.com/6jIuPD4jTL
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) August 31, 2025

MacKinnon is coming off leading Canada to victory at the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off played last February, earning MVP honors while playing under head coach Jon Cooper for the first time.

In a piece written by NHL.com's Dan Rose, however, MacKinnon is quoted as describing his first practice with Team Canada before the 4 Nations as "jittery" because of his lack of knowledge of head coach Jon Cooper's systems of play.

Judging by the final outcome, however, it's fair to say that MacKinnon adapted quickly, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals in four games.

“That’s kind of our expectations as athletes, is to be the best, and to win,” MacKinnon said from Canada's pre-Olympic training camp. “So it’s exciting, and (I'm) excited to feel that pressure.”

2026 Will Mark Olympic Return for NHL Stars

This generation of players will be the first to compete in the Olympics since 2014 in Sochi, when NHLers last took part. Canada won gold that year, but Russia claimed the top prize in 2018, and Finland followed in 2022.

The return of elite professionals has reignited expectations for Canada to return to the top, even more so after they won the last international tournament featuring prominent nations filled with NHL players at the 4 Nations.

Hockey Canada named 42 NHL players to its orientation camp, including MacKinnon and fellow stars Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, among others, as well as young phenoms Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini.

All 24 members of the winning squad at the 4 Nations Face-Off were also invited, with the final roster set to be announced on Dec. 31 and the Olympics' men's tournament running from Feb. 11-22 in Milan.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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