Gabriel Landeskog’s remarkable comeback leads to Masterton nomination

That's not a throwaway note on the hockey calendar. It's one of the league's most respected honors, and it lands on players whose road back says something real about the sport.

In Landeskog's case, the nomination carries weight because his path hasn't looked clean or easy. It's been long, public, and packed with questions about whether he could still get back to NHL action.

The stat line gives the story some edge. After skating in 2 games with the Colorado Eagles in 2024-25, he returned to the Avalanche lineup in 2025-26 and played 56 games.

He didn't just dress and stand in the corner. Landeskog put up 12 goals and 33 points, which turned the conversation from sentiment to impact.

That matters with this award. The Masterton isn't handed out for nostalgia. It goes to the player who best shows perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Landeskog's case also stands on the body of work he has built over time. He has played 794 NHL games and produced 604 points, numbers that speak to both staying power and identity.

Then there's the playoff file. He has 74 postseason games and 71 points, the kind of production that tells you exactly what he has meant when the games tighten up.

Colorado drafted him 2nd overall in 2011, and he has spent the biggest years of his career tied to the Avalanche standard. That's why this nomination feels bigger than a routine team submission.

At 33, he's no longer being measured against projection or upside. He's being measured against the grind it took to get back into a league that moves fast and forgets even faster.

There's also a locker room angle here. Players notice who keeps pushing when the road gets ugly, and Landeskog's name on this ballot says his return carried meaning inside the room too.

The production helped, no doubt. But this nomination is really about the combination of presence, fight, and the fact he found a way back into the lineup with enough game left to matter.

For the Avalanche, it's another sign that Landeskog isn't just part of old highlights. He's part of the current picture again, and that gives this nomination real bite.

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