Colorado Avalanche: Celebrating Gabriel Landeskog’s Captaincy on Twitter

Colorado Avalanche Twitter shows why our captain, Gabriel Landeskog, is the best. See his leadership through this unique lens.

The Colorado Avalanche’s social media team was at it again. In June, they sent out a series of tweets about each player. Of course our captain, Gabriel Landeskog, was a fan favorite.

Criticism of Landeskog’s leadership has quieted down in recent years, as well it should have. I really don’t see how it can be a question that he’s the right captain for this team.

I was surprised to see it was Landeskog’s eighth season with the Avs. I still remember watching his rookie debut and hearing he’d been named captain at the tender age of 19.

Landeskog had a career year. He was an integral part of that powerhouse top line that put the fear into many a blueliner and goalie.

Our captain has certainly matured over the years. Naturally, he was a kid, a literal teen when he broke into the NHL his draft year. You still see flashes of that kid sometimes:

Oh, Captain, my captain.

Honestly, though, I like how he always looks so fiercely happy when he celebrates.

I noticed a while ago that Gabe likes to take up office in front of the net. It’s a tough place to linger because you usually have a defenseman and a goalie trying to surgically remove your kidneys with a hockey stick (or a paddle in the goalie’s case). But Landeskog doesn’t shy away.

In fact, he became a master at the tip-in. I remember being at one of the practices and watching Landeskog teach his techniques to some of the younger players.

Let’s appreciate another one of his goals:

And this one:

The fact that our handsome, athletically-gifted captain is also somewhat clumsy is just icing on the cake:

Of course, our captain wasn’t clumsy when he scored the game-winner in overtime at the Pepsi Center in front of the home crowd:

He sent Marc Moser into conniptions again.

And, of course, the post-game winning celebration:

Another great look at the beautiful joy on Landeskog’s face. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fantasized about what look will take over Landy’s face when he hoists the Stanley Cup. It will be beautific.

Looking at Landeskog’s captaincy in particular, I’ve always appreciated his fierceness for the team and his inclusiveness in everyone that’s part of Avs Nation.

The Colorado Avalanche Twitter also had a unique view:

Our captain is a Viking warrior. He’s hot-headed. But for him, it’s all about defending his team.

Landeskog isn’t as prolific a scorer as Nathan MacKinnon, but he’s no slouch either. What’s more, as we saw with the game-winner above, he can score the big goals when necessary:

Teams, like families, have their own language and traditions. I once heard that Zdeno Chara refuses to call rookies by that name — he refers to them instead as first-year players. I guess that’s supposed to be less demeaning than the word rookie.

Well, on Landy’s team, it’s a sports world. I’ve often thought he’s a very supportive captain. But it’s a team of men, and you’re going to have your shenanigans:

I repeat, you’re going to have your shenanigans:

The first water bottle treatment is to celebrate milestones. If you achieve a milestone while Gabe is on the bench, you’re going to be doused by your captain’s water bottle.

The second dousing was after alternate captain, and the longest-tenured member of the Colorado Avalanche, Erik Johnson had scored the game-winning goal against the Winnipeg Jets, and he was the first star of the night.

Plus, you know, he and EJ are really good friends.

Small rant: I have a hard time with players who eschew the All Star Game. It’s an honor to get named to the All Star team. I don’t know if these players realize that, 20 years down the road, many people are going to have forgotten them. They get very few years to be on top of the world.

Maybe players like Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin will never be truly forgotten, but how often do you find yourself talking about Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemiuex? Probably not all that often. Gordie Howe and Jacques Plante? Even less often. You’ve got to appreciate what you’ve got while you’ve got it.

Well, our captain isn’t so ungrateful. He appeared in his first All Star weekend, and he was proud.

In fact, he good-naturedly went along with the team’s campaign to get him named as a voted-in player:

I like to think it’s because Gabe realized what else is at stake. When you are named to the All Star team, you’re not just representing yourself. You’re representing that logo on the front, the team. And you’re representing your fanbase back home, who get the chance to see one of their favorite players recognized.

So, yes, Landy deserved his All Star spot. (Also, shout out to Landesdog.)

The Colorado Avalanche is known as a tight team, and I think a lot of the credit for that goes to Gabriel Landeskog. What do you think of his captaincy?