Colorado Avalanche: How Gabriel Landeskog can Improve for 2017-18

Every player has improvements they can make to help the team, especially on the Colorado Avalanche. Captain Gabriel Landeskog can make theses improvements to help the team next season.

Colorado Avalanche left wing and captain Gabriel Landeskog had somewhat decent statistics last season. For the 2016-2017 regular season, he played 72 games, recording 18 goals and 15 assists for 33 points. Those are not stellar numbers, but put him fifth on the team for scoring.

So, you can say Landeskog played a lot of games and contributed. However, this was also the first season, barring the lockout-shortened year, that he did not earn 20 plus goals.

Gabriel Landeskog has potential to have strong offensive numbers. That was not in evidence last season, and it hasn’t fully materialized yet. So, one thing Landeskog is going to have to improve for next season is his offensive production.

Defensively, Landeskog does his share. Every season except the 2015-16 campaign has seen him have a Corsi-For percentage above 50%, meaning the Avs were in possession of the puck more often when he was on the ice. Last year his Corsi-For was 53.5, his second-best showing of his career.

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If Landeskog starts struggling again offensively — and he has mentioned that he tends to score goals in bunches — Landeskog is going to have to bear down on defense.

As team captain Landeskog provides leadership on and off the ice. While in the past he wasn’t known for being vocal in the locker room, this seems to be shifting as he matures. Last season was a struggle for everyone involved, and Gabriel admitted it every step of the way.

Gabriel Landeskog has potential to surpass 60 points each season. Landeskog needs to find more ways to score and work with his teammates. Scoring can be contagious and others can feed off of that.

Here is what he needs to work on to help the team. Landeskog needs to bring up his offensive numbers. If he can score more goals and provide more offensive chances will help the team win. It may even help his teammates get chances to score.

While also continuing to help on defense, Landeskog must bring energy and inspire teammates his to be better. This is especially true when things are not going right. He will have to continue to grow as a leader and help find ways to get out of tough times.

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Landeskog is only 24 years old. While he’s just striding into his prime, he has yet to come into his own. He has plenty of years to go. Hopefully that will bring more to his game and he will go on both sides of the puck. That will help The Colorado Avalanche to have a reliable player and leader.

There will always be a need for improvement. Let’s hope for good results next season. Gabriel Landeskog at his best means the Colorado Avalanche have a good chance to be successful.

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