Without Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche are feeling a leadership void
Nov 6, 2019, 7:01 AM
Since the loss of Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, the team seemingly has no direction. Colorado is missing a leader for their hockey club.
While they might have three different alternate captains, none of them have stepped up to take control of this team until the true leader returns. There is only so much head coach Jared Bednar can do from the bench for his team without someone stepping up.
During the 2017-18 season, Landeskog was suspended for four games; those games were felt by the Avalanche. In the four-game stretch the Avalanche won once in overtime and lost three games. While losing your captain is a huge blow for any team, it seems even larger with this club.
Bednar is trying to do what he can to get his team going again, a lot of it is always in question. He has been changing the line combinations and defensive combinations. Trying to find any spark to get the scoring rolling again.
For whatever reason, it has all seemed to dry up. Nathan MacKinnon does not have a point in two of the last three losses. While MacKinnon is not the only person on this team expected to score, he is one of our alternate captains and now is the time this team needs him to step up.
The third alternate captain was named as Pierre-Edouard Bellemare after Landeskog fell to his injury. Bellemare has been a driving force on the fourth line of this young Avalanche club. But Bellemare is new to this club, as well, being acquired this off season as a free-agent signing. This season he has 7 points (3g, 4a) in 14 games.
Erik Johnson is the Avalanche other alternate captain. Johnson is a veteran on this team; at the age of 31, he is one of the oldest players on this team (Bellemare being the oldest). Johnson in his 10th season with the Avalanche (13 total NHL seasons) is the eldest player on the defense. He has seen different partners, but has mostly seen time with Samuel Girard.
As far as the defense is concerned, Johnson is not a flashy player like Girard or Cale Makar. Most games Johnson is not noticed, unless he is getting scored on.
Who is the true leader for the Avs with Landeskog out? Someone has to say enough is enough and step up to the plate because the current on-ice product isn’t getting it done.
