Gabriel Landeskog named as finalist for Masterson Trophy

Gabriel Landeskog was named as a finalist for the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy as he continues to gain recognition for his impressive comeback to the ice

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

May 2, 2025, 10:06 AM

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Gabriel Landeskog is one of the greatest players in Colorado Avalanche franchise history, but he doesn’t have the decked out trophy case that backs that claim up. With just the 2012 Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) and the 2022 Stanley Cup, his trophy case isn’t as deep as one might think.

The captain has a chance to add to it this year, as he was named a finalized for the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy on Friday. As described by the NHL, the trophy is awarded “to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”

The other finalists are Marc-Andre Fleury and Sean Monahan.

Presenting the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy finalists. 📣 #NHLAwards

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the "player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." pic.twitter.com/zfnKyPiChn

— NHL (@NHL) May 2, 2025

No player in Avalanche franchise history has won this award, but it has been won by a Colorado player. Glenn Resch, who played for the Colorado Rockies in 1982, won the award that year. That team is not related to the Avalanche nor the present-day Rockies in the MLB.

Landeskog’s perseverance is second-to-none in the league, as he completed his comeback process that took almost three years to return to the ice in Game 3 of the playoffs this year. He went through two knee surgeries, one of which was a cartilage transplant surgery that no one has come back to play NHL hockey from, in the past few years to make his way back for the Avalanche after being cut by an errant skate in 2020. He was able to hold on enough to help the team win the Stanley Cup in 2022, but made the injury worse by doing so, causing the need for multiple surgeries and setbacks.

Since his return in Game 3, Landeskog has scored a goal and assisted on three more as he has his team in a position to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals on Saturday.