Gabe Landeskog’s comeback story is both well-documented and remarkable.
The Colorado Avalanche captain, who missed three full regular seasons before returning during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, was named one of three finalists Monday for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award is given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
“I think it’s so well deserved,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “I think he’s going to win it. I think he should win it. … There’s not many guys in the history of the NHL that have been able to kind of go through something like that for that length of time, and that much of a rigorous rehab that wears on you mentally, physically, and to be able to come through the other side and still be the player that he is.
“It’s not easy to do. So I think that it’s obviously why he’s nominated. We’re not the only ones that recognize it.”
Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin and Winnipeg’s Jonathan Toews are the other finalists. It is an award with dozens of worthy recipients every season.
Landeskog played through a knee injury during Colorado’s run to the Stanley Cup championship in 2022. The price he paid was more severe than anyone could have predicted. The Avs captain did not play another hockey game for 1,020 days, when he returned for the Colorado Eagles before rejoining the Avs for Game 3 of their first-round series against the Dallas Stars.
He missed three regular seasons because of complications with his knee. There were four procedures, including knee cartilage transplant surgery. Landeskog became the first player to have that procedure and return to the NHL.
Not only did Landeskog return, but he was also one of Colorado’s best players in a seven-game loss to the Stars. There was plenty of uncertainty about how Landeskog’s knee would hold up in his first full season back.
He has not missed a game this season because of anything related to his knee. What has made his comeback even more remarkable is that he has had to deal with two incredibly painful injuries — broken ribs after crashing into the goal post, and he needed surgery after taking a Cale Makar shot to his groin area.
Landeskog’s reputation as one of the great leaders in sports has only been further augmented this season. With their captain in the lineup, they went 45-7-8 in the regular season and are now 5-0 in the playoffs after defeating the Minnesota Wild, 9-6, in a chaotic Game 1 of their second-round series.
“Last year was such a special game when he came back,” Avs star Nathan MacKinnon said. “It was almost bigger than the whole series. It was amazing. I think this year, it’s a lot more normal. It just feels like he never really left the room. We were talking about that with a few other teammates. The last three years have flew by quick. I don’t think it did for him, he worked extremely hard to get back and I think now, yeah, it just feels normal again.”
