Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog is a finalist for a major NHL award

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced on Monday morning.

The award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey. It’s voted on by the PHWA.

Other finalists are Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres and Jonathan Toews of the Winnipeg Jets.

Here are the finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. 🏆 #NHLAwards

The Trophy is awarded annually by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey. pic.twitter.com/i01Cc6Sh4H

— NHL (@NHL) May 4, 2026

Obviously, Gabriel Landeskog checks all the boxes for what the Masterton Trophy is about.

He persevered through multiple knee surgeries to return for the 2025-26 regular season after missing three straight years. Landeskog came back for five playoff games a year ago, but he was able to play a full year for the first time since 2021-2022.

The Colorado captain missed time with a rib injury and took a puck to the mid-section, but the knee wasn’t a story all season which is remarkable. His leadership was evident as the Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy and are a perfect 5-0 thus far in then playoffs.

Landeskog is also widely regarded as one of the classiest players in the game and is also clearly dedicated to hockey. Most guys would’ve called it a career, but Landeskog underwent a rare cartilage replacement surgery on his knee and worked relentlessly to get back.

This is a nice change of pace for the Avs who have been snubbed in the nominations for major awards thus far. Nathan MacKinnon isn’t up for the Ted Lindsay Award, Scott Wedgewood for the Vezina Trophy nor Jared Bednar for the Jack Adams Award.

Gabriel Landeskog would certainly be a worthy recipient of the Masterton Trophy. We’ll find out if he takes it next month at the NHL Honors when all the winners are revealed.

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