Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog receives devastating news heading into the offseason
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy / USA TODAY Sports
Gabriel Landeskog's return during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs was a powerful tale of determination, perseverance, and heart, as the Avalanche captain stepped back onto the ice after missing the last three seasons with a knee injury.
Absolutely, Landeskog's journey checks every box the NHL looks for in a Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner. His long road back, marked by unwavering perseverance, professionalism, and love for the game, perfectly embodies the spirit of the award. If there were ever a story tailor-made for that honour, this would be it.
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog receives devastating news.
Trent Finnegan from Denver Sports writes that surprisingly, despite being one of the three finalists, Landeskog did not take home the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. Instead, the award went to Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan, who was announced as the winner Thursday morning, a decision that may raise eyebrows given the emotional weight and significance of Landeskog's comeback.
The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writer's Association.
Monahan played a pivotal role in guiding the Blue Jackets through an incredibly challenging period following the tragic passing of Johnny Gaudreau last offseason.
His leadership, poise, and steady presence both on and off the ice were instrumental in helping the team navigate the emotional aftermath of the loss.
"For Landeskog, it would've been more plausible for him to win the award if he came back before the postseason. No hockey player has ever come back from the procedure he had to play again, so his achievement was groundbreaking. If he is able to play like he did in the postseason, for a decent amount of games, it will be more than likely for the Landeskog to be back as a finalist for the award after the 2026 season." -Finnegan
This announcement comes on the heels of more disappointing news for the Avalanche, as it was revealed just a day earlier that neither Nathan MacKinnon nor Cale Makar would be taking home the Ted Lindsay Award, despite both earning finalist nods. Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov brought home the award on Thursday.
Makar remains the leading candidate for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defenseman.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 5 | 53 ANSWERS Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog receives devastating news heading into the offseason Do you think Gabriel Landeskog was the clear winner for the Bill Masterton Trophy? | ||
| yes | 34 | 64.2 % |
| no | 19 | 35.8 % |
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