Gabriel Landeskog Made NHL History After 1,032 Days Away, And His Teammates Are The Reason Why

Holy smokes, Kraken fans, you gotta hear about this dude, Gabriel Landeskog! The Colorado Avalanche forward just pulled off something NOBODY in NHL history has ever done. He snagged both the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in the same season, making him the first player EVER to win both, period. Talk about a comeback for the ages, especially after he was gone for what felt like forever.

1,032 Days of Grit And Pure Dedication

Man, we're talking about a guy who literally clawed his way back to the top. Landeskog, at 33, missed three whole seasons, from 2022-23 through 2024-25, because of a brutal knee injury that needed multiple surgeries, including a cartilage transplant. Think about that: 1,032 days away from the game he loves! His return in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs was epic, but the 2025-26 season was his first full one since he was lighting it up with 30 goals back in 2021-22 when the Avs won the Cup. This dude didn't just show up, either. He put up 14 goals and 21 assists over 60 regular season games, helping Colorado snatch the Presidents' Trophy. Then in the postseason, he added another six goals and five assists in 13 games. That's perseverance personified, right there.

More Than Just A Letter On His Chest

So, what exactly do these awards mean? The Masterton Trophy goes to the player who best shows "perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." If that doesn't scream Landeskog's name after what he went through, I don't know what does. Then there's the Mark Messier Leadership Award, given to the player who "exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey." Landeskog has been the Avalanche's captain since his rookie season, becoming the youngest captain in league history at 19 years, 286 days. He summed up the Messier Award perfectly, calling it a "huge honor." He's humble too, saying, "no leader is going to sit here and take the honor and accept the award on his own. It's because of my teammates that allowed me this opportunity." He even stressed that while he wears the "C," it's "leadership by committee," with "plenty of guys in that locker room with ‘A's on their jerseys or no letters on their jerseys. Guys bring so much to the table. We all lead in different ways." That's true leadership right there, recognizing his squad. What a story, right? This dude's career, 12 seasons all with Colorado, 606 points in 798 games. It's a masterclass in sticking with it and leading your team, even when the chips are stacked against you. For us Kraken fans, it's a reminder of the kind of heart and dedication that makes this sport so electric. You gotta respect a player who fights back from three seasons off the ice to not just play, but make NHL history. You just love to see it.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.