Avalanche Captain Gabe Landeskog is back with the team after reaching an agreement on a new 8-year contract. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
Just a few days after signing 22-year-old Defenseman Cale Makar to a new 6-year contract, The Avalanche announced they've reached a new deal with the youngest Captain in team history, Gabriel Landeskog is back on a new 8-year, $56 Million Deal.
Landeskog, 28, completed his 10th NHL season in 2020-21, his 9th as the Avs captain. Only his boss, General Manager Joe Sakic (16 consecutive seasons, 17 overall) served as the franchise’s captain for a longer period of time. Landeskog’s 9-year run as captain is tied for the 5th-longest streak among current NHL players.
The Stockholm, Sweden, native captained the Avalanche to the Presidents’ Trophy and Honda West Division championship in 2020-21. Landeskog, who was the youngest captain in NHL history when he assumed the role at 19 years, 286 days on Sept. 4, 2012, has led the Avalanche to four straight playoff berths, the third-longest streak of postseason appearances in franchise history.
The 2nd overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Landeskog has recorded 218 goals and 294 assists for 512 points in 687 career regular-season games. He ranks sixth on the franchise’s all-time list in goals, seventh in games, eighth in points and 11th in assists. His 38 game-winning goals are tied for sixth in franchise annals while his 61 power-play goals rank seventh.
Since the franchise relocated to Denver in 1995, Landeskog’s 218 goals trail only Sakic (391) and Milan Hejduk (375) for the most in an Avalanche sweater. He is 5th in points and ranks 4th in games played, power-play tallies and game-winning markers in Colorado history.
Landeskog finished second on the club in goals (20-tied) and 3rd in points (52) during the shortened 2020-21 campaign. It marked his 8th career 20-goal season, third most by an Avalanche player since the franchise relocated behind Hejduk and Sakic (both 11). Landeskog led the club and tied for third in the NHL with 8 game-winning goals. He also paced the team in hits (81), power-play goals (9-tied) and faceoff percentage (56.6). His 56.6 faceoff percentage ranked 10th in the NHL and was the highest of any winger in 2020-21. He scored his 200th NHL goal on Jan. 15 vs. St. Louis and picked up his 500th NHL point on April 11 at Anaheim. Landeskog added 13 points (4g/9a) in 10 playoff games, ranking third on the club.
"We are thrilled to have our captain signed to a long-term deal," Sakic said in a statement. "Gabe is the heart and soul of this team and an integral part of our organization both on the ice and in the community. He's the consummate leader, a great teammate, and alongside (Nathan) MacKinnon and (Mikko) Rantanen, is part of what has been one of the NHL’s best lines over the past four seasons. We are excited to have Landy in an Avalanche sweater for many years to come."