NHL History Rewritten: Gabriel Landeskog's Double Award Win After 1,032 Days Is Still Blowing Minds

Alright, let's just get this out of the way, because if you're like me, you probably had to read it twice: Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog, the dude who has been through an absolute WAR on his knee, just made NHL history. Like, straight up. On Tuesday, Landeskog not only snagged the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy but also the Mark Messier Leadership Award. This isn't just a big deal, folks, it's unprecedented. He's the *first player ever* to win both of those prestigious awards in his career, let alone in the same season. You hear that? *Ever*. After everything he's been through, this is the kind of story that reminds you why we love sports, why we scream our heads off at Lumen Field or T-Mobile Park. It's about that grit, that comeback.

The Comeback Story No One Saw Coming

Let's talk about the absolute grind Landeskog endured, because that's where the Masterton Trophy lives. This guy, Landeskog, 33 years old, missed three full seasons of hockey. Yeah, you read that right: 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25. Why? A brutal knee injury that needed multiple surgeries, including a cartilage transplant. He was out for a staggering 1,032 days between games. Think about that, 1,032 days. Our own Kraken players know what a tough injury means, but *three seasons*? That's just wild. He finally made his return in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, and the 2025-26 season was his first full one since he was lighting it up with 30 goals back in their 2021-22 Stanley Cup run. To come back from that, play 60 regular season games where he put up 14 goals and 21 assists, helping Colorado win the Presidents' Trophy, and then add 6 goals and 5 assists in 13 postseason games? That's not just perseverance, that's a whole new level of dedication.

More Than Just Goals: The Heart of a Captain

But it wasn't just his return to the ice that got him recognized. The Messier Leadership Award, handed out since 2006-07, is for 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 with Colorado his entire 12-season NHL career, racking up 606 points in 798 games. He was named their captain right after his rookie season, the youngest captain in league history at 19 years, 286 days. Talk about being built for leadership from day one! He called the Messier Award "a huge honor," but true to form, he didn't take all the credit, telling NHL.com, "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, and even though I'm the one wearing the ‘C' on my chest, it's leadership by committee. There are 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 the kind of humility and understanding of team dynamics you want to see from any captain, on any squad. It's a testament to what heart and pure dedication can do. While the NHL season wraps up and awards get handed out, Landeskog's story is a massive reminder of the human element in sports, something that will echo for a long time.

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