Gabriel Landeskog’s Achievements
Gabriel Landeskog, the captain of the Colorado Avalanche, has been recognized for his leadership and dedication by winning both the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, as officially announced on Tuesday.
Awards Overview
The Mark Messier Award honors a player who demonstrates exemplary leadership qualities on and off the ice during the NHL regular season and contributes positively to the community by promoting the sport of hockey. This accolade is determined with input from team personnel and an NHL panel, culminating in a final selection by hockey legend Mark Messier himself.
On the other hand, the Bill Masterton Trophy is conferred to a player who best embodies the principles of perseverance, sportsmanship, and commitment to the sport. It is granted based on votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Landeskog’s Career and Challenges
Landeskog, a left winger and the third-longest-serving captain in the NHL—following Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin, the all-time leading goalscorer—has been a lifelong member of the Avalanche. At only 33 years old, he faced significant challenges due to a chronic knee injury, which sidelined him for the entirety of the 2022-23, 2023-24 seasons, and most of the 2024-25 regular season.
In April 2025, he began to return to form by joining the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, for a conditioning stint before rejoining his team for the playoffs. During his comeback season of 2025-26, Landeskog played in 60 games, scoring 14 goals and contributing 35 points, though he did face further injury setbacks in January and February. Nevertheless, he successfully led Sweden’s national team during the Olympics.
Impact on the Avalanche
Ultimately, his return revitalized the Avalanche, who finished the regular season at the top of the NHL standings, earning the Presidents’ Trophy with an impressive 55-16-11 record and tallying 121 points. The team made an impressive playoff run, starting with a clean sweep of the Los Angeles Kings before overcoming the Minnesota Wild in five games, although they would later be eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals.
