MINNEAPOLIS — Gabriel Landeskog and Adam Larsson are similar in so many ways. Both are Swedish natives, both were born in November 1992 and both are considered shoo-ins to be picked among the first five players in tonight’s first round of the NHL draft.
However, sitting only a few feet away from each other Thursday as they talked to the media, the two couldn’t have seemed more different.
While Landeskog held court and charmed a sizable gathering of media with colorful commentary, Larsson was in a literal and figurative sweat trying to answer questions. Part of that probably has something to do with Landeskog’s better grasp of English.
Landeskog all but said he’s been ready for this kind of attention his whole life, while Larsson clearly seems more comfortable with a hockey stick in hand than a microphone.
“He likes the press,” Larsson said quietly about his countryman. “I’m not used to this.”
Landeskog and Larsson are alike in their passion for hockey, and one of the two could wind up wearing an Avalanche uniform tonight when the first round is conducted at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
While Red Deer Rebels 18-year-old center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is expected to go first overall to Edmonton, Landeskog and Larsson are good enough in the minds of many scouts to go second to Colorado.
The Avs, who also hold the No. 11 pick in the first round, have needs at the positions they play — with Landeskog a left winger and Larsson a defenseman. The other big possibility at No. 2 is Quebec League forward Jonathan Huberdeau.
Of the players available tonight, Landeskog may be the most ready to jump immediately to the NHL. At 6-foot-1, 207 pounds, he has the physical maturity usually lacking in players his age.
“He’s a physical player in terms of confrontation,” Avalanche chief scout Rick Pracey said. “He initiates the contact, but he’s also a player who plays the full length of the ice. He’s diligent. There’s lots to like here in terms of his overall package.”
Landeskog seems more emotionally mature than your typical teenager too. Despite growing up in Stockholm, he speaks perfect English and has no traces of a Swedish accent.
He sounds Canadian actually, and scouts say his game is more North American than your usual European. He likes to crash and bang in the corners and around the net, but he has skill too. As captain of the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, he scored 36 goals and 66 points in 53 games.
Landeskog’s favorite player as a kid? It’s former Avs star Peter Forsberg.
“He was my guy, just the way he could dominate the game physically, but also with his skill,” Landeskog said.
Of the possibility of joining the Avalanche, Landeskog said, “I’ve only heard great things about Denver and Colorado, and obviously they’ve got a great future there. I had a pretty good feeling walking out of there (after meeting with Avs scouts), and I had an extra long chat with them afterwards. I think they showed a little bit of interest.”
While Landeskog decided to play junior in Canada and learned English mostly from watching TV there, Larsson has played professionally in Sweden — for Skelleftea of the Elite League.
Larsson indicated he wants to begin his NHL career this coming season.
“I think I’m ready,” he said. “I think I’m ready in the body, and I think my game fits the NHL.”
Larsson would have no problem coming to the Avs, either.
“They just signed my (Skelleftea) teammate Joakim Lindstrom. It would be fun to play in Colorado this year,” Larsson said.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
