Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog sent a strong message about how he sees the 2026-27 season, not only for himself, but for the Colorado Avalanche.
Speaking to NHL.com, the Avalanche captain made bullish remarks about how he feels this season. In particular, he made it clear that he’s ready for what comes next.
“I am expecting myself to take another step. I’ve had a great summer. There’s a huge difference from 12 months ago.”
That’s fantastic news for Avalanche fans. The 33-year-old overcame what could have been a career-ending injury in 2020. He struggled through three years of rehab before coming back for the 2025 playoffs.
Last season, he appeared in 60 games. He dealt with broken ribs early in 2026, while also being the victim of friendly fire.
Despite those obstacles, he chipped in 14 goals and 35 points, while averaging over 16 minutes of ice time per night. His contributions, of course, go well beyond the scoresheet. Ladeskog’s leadership is undeniable, as he’s helped the team get back to its Stanley Cup contender form.
The NHL recognized his tremendous efforts by awarding him the Bill Masterton Trophy this past season.
Those efforts have led him to get to a point where he’s optimistic about what lies ahead, in particular as it pertains to his right knee.
“It’s not anybody’s healthy knee,” Landeskog said. “But it’s pretty close to it, and the more time passes, the stronger I get.”
The Avalanche hope the former second-overall pick can get back as close as possible to his career-high 34 goals and 75 points.
Landeskog looking to be consistent for Avalanche in 2026-27
When looking at what a good season would mean for Landeskog and the team, the captain pointed out that consistency will be the key.
“I’m very excited to feel this good, and I just want to continue to build my game,” Landeskog said. “And there were times when we would see it last year. But I’m excited to consistently get better as a player.”
That consistency will be crucial in the regular season. While Landeskog isn’t overly concerned about being the NHL’s best team, his focus is on getting through the 84-game gauntlet that would culminate in a strong playoff run.
“Do you care about the regular season? Not really,” Landeskog said. “But you care about the playoffs. That’s all that matters. You have to build your game. You can’t just get to the playoffs, limp into the playoffs, and say, ‘OK, let’s the flip the switch.’ That’s hard to do as well. So you have to build it, and as a group, find different ways and methods.”
Indeed, the entire focus of this season is on getting to the playoffs and being as ready as possible for the grind of the NHL postseason.
Anything short of a championship will not cut it in Colorado. This team is built to win the Cup, and Landeskog knows it.
It’s going to be Stanley Cup or bust for the Avalanche in 2026-27.
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