DENVER — Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, the 2026 Masterton Trophy winner, reflected on his first full season back after three years sidelined by a cartilage transplant, a campaign that saw the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners reach Round 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs before being swept by Vegas. In a candid conversation with Sportsnet, Landeskog discussed the grind of an 82-game schedule plus an Olympic tournament overseas, the heartbreak of the conference final sweep and a summer of change in Colorado.
Landeskog said he entered the year with an open mind and patience while trying to rediscover his game, noting the early adjustment as his knee adapted to skating just about every other day. "I had a very open mind to what it was going to be like. I didn't really have much expectations other than play my heart out, try to find my game as best as I possibly can," Landeskog said. "I don't take anything for granted anymore. I just appreciate it all, and I'm excited about another season, especially feeling this good going into it." He said he has learned to lean on others rather than white-knuckle through frustration and to balance when to push through and when to pull back.
On the sweep, Landeskog said it leaves a bad taste and makes watching the Stanley Cup Final difficult, noting he normally takes at least a week away from watching after elimination and historically only watches the Cup-deciding game. He also addressed teammate Cale Makar's eight-year extension at $20.4 million per season. "That's where we're at. That's great for the sport of hockey. Great for the league," Landeskog said. "But if it's not Cale Makar, who is it going to be? Like, it's him or Nate or Connor or Leon or Celebrini, right?" He added he did not think a handful of years ago someone would be making 20 million, but it shows the league is in a good spot.
Landeskog also praised new addition Jaden Schwartz, who has six points in four games, calling him nifty, creative and experienced and noting he is one season removed from scoring 26 goals and has won a Cup. He said Schwartz is hard to knock off the puck and offers flexibility to plug in through the top six and middle six. On Daniel Alfredsson's move from Ottawa to Toronto this summer, Landeskog recalled meeting Alfredsson at age nine when his Hammarby team came to Ottawa for the Bell Capital Cup and later playing against him in the NHL and with him at the 2014 Olympics. "I'm a huge Alfie fan," Landeskog said, adding he was a bit shocked by the move but that Sens fans will forgive him.