The arrival of NHL players at Milan's Malpensa airport for the Winter Olympics caused quite the stir as dozens of athletes made their way to the host city. Among the first from the Finnish 'Leijonat' team were players Mikael Granlund and Artturi Lehkonen, who headed to the Olympic village with team manager Mika Kortelainen, coach Tuomo Ruutu, and Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekäläinen in attendance. As excitement built, some players were unable to provide comments to the media as follow-up interactions were scheduled for the evening during Finnish practice.

Other NHL stars from various countries also joined the Finnish players, including Denmark's leading player Nikolaj Ehlers and Czech player Radko Gudas, highlighting the international spirit of the Olympics. The Slovenian team was also present, increasing the tide of talent and star power in one location, setting the stage for the events to come.

Shortly thereafter, the entire Canadian Olympic team arrived, led by veteran Sidney Crosby, adding to the glitter of the gathering at the airport. With such high-profile athletes arriving, it underscores the significance and excitement surrounding the upcoming Olympic games, along with the challenges of managing logistics and media attention for these star athletes at a busy airport setting.