- Nelson won Olympic gold in Milan six months after his 1,000th NHL game
- His grandfather, great uncle and uncle all won gold before him
- Read below for Nelson on the Avalanche sweep and what Colorado expects next season
Brock Nelson still needs a minute to process February.
The Avalanche center won Olympic gold with the United States in Milan, and half a year later it has not fully landed. Nelson made his 2026 debut at Da Beauty League in Edina, Minnesota, on Wednesday and talked with Heather Rule of NHL.com about the medal.
“A memory and moments that we’ll never forget. Super emotional when we were able to get it done. Something you dreamed of, it’s happened now.”
Three generations of his family got there first. Grandfather Bill Christian and great uncle Roger Christian won gold at Squaw Valley in 1960, and uncle Dave Christian did it in 1980 at Lake Placid with the Miracle on Ice team. Dave was in Italy in February to watch Nelson add to the pile.
Here’s the NHL laying out the family tree:
In Milan, Nelson had two goals and an assist in six games. The Americans beat Canada 2-1 in overtime on Feb. 22 for their first men’s hockey gold since 1980.
Take a look at how Colorado marked his run to the final:
His club season held up too. Nelson put up 65 points (33 goals, 32 assists) in 81 games, reached 30 goals for the fourth time in his career, played his 1,000th NHL game and landed as a Selke Trophy finalist. He finished fourth in Avalanche scoring behind Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas and Cale Makar.
Colorado won the Presidents’ Trophy at 55-16-11 with 121 points, swept the Kings and put away the Wild in five. Then Vegas swept the Avalanche out of the Western Conference Final.
Asked how that ending sits with him now, Nelson did not soften it.
“Obviously, it doesn’t matter how you lose a series, but obviously getting swept is even more disappointing.”
Game 3 was the one he kept circling. The Avalanche carried a three-goal lead out of the first period, gave up three in the second and lost 5-3.
Small stuff decided the series, Nelson said, and he is carrying it into September.
“I think the margin for error and the need for really timely execution is crucial. But I think all that motivation carries over to this year.”
All of it came out at Da Beauty League’s last stand. The Minnesota summer pro-am at Braemar Arena is closing after a decade of NHL, PWHL and college players filling out its rosters.
Check out the league’s goodbye post:
Nelson turns 35 on Oct. 15 and expects a similar roster in Colorado. He pointed to Makar, Devon Toews, the goaltending and a healthy Gabriel Landeskog as the reasons the Avalanche should be in every game.
“I know this team is hungrier than ever, even having won it recently.”
A Cup is the one piece missing. Colorado hasn’t won since 2022, and Nelson has never won at all.
