Gabriel Landeskog did not win the Bill Masterton Trophy last season, but the second time might be the charm.
The Colorado chapter of the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association named Landeskog as the Avalanche’s nominee for the award for the second straight season. The trophy is earned by the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Landeskog was a finalist for the award last season but did not win, as Columbus’ Sean Monahan received the most votes.
Landeskog famously missed nearly three full years of hockey due to a knee injury. In May 2023, he elected to have cartilage transplant surgery on his right knee, an operation from which no NHL player had returned.
Landeskog was nearing a return to play last season when he was announced as the nominee last season. He played two games for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on a conditioning loan just a few days later. He returned to the NHL soon after, playing in five playoff games for the Avalanche against the Dallas Stars.
To the surprise of even Landeskog himself, the knee has held up well throughout the course of this season.
“I think maybe my expectations were that it was going to be a game (off) here or there, maybe. I wouldn’t have been surprised if that was the case,” Landeskog said in December. “I feel like when you’re having days where you’re a little bit sore and stuff like that, come puck drop, you don’t really think about it and then you’re able to bounce back quickly for the next day.
“That’s been a pleasant surprise, how quickly I’ve been able to come back off of being a little bit sore postgame.”
Landeskog has 12 goals, 33 points, and has posted a plus-28 in 55 games. After a slower start, which the Avalanche expected, Landeskog has 26 points in his last 33 games. The Avalanche have a record of 41-7-7 when Landeskog is in the lineup.
Each PHWA chapter nominates someone from their respective team for the award. The three finalists for the award will be announced at a later date.