The Colorado Avalanche are still several days away from starting their third Stanley Cup playoff series, this time against the Vegas Golden Knights. However, the show doesn’t stop while the Avs are waiting. Practices take place, and so do internal conversations.
When you think of leadership on the Avalanche, your mind automatically goes to Gabriel Landeskog. He’s the team’s captain and has been since he was just 19 years old, after Milan Hejduk left.
Colorado saw something in Landeskog to make that decision extremely early on, and it has paid off so incredibly well. He has been their captain ever since. Colorado didn’t even give the “C” to another player in the three years Landeskog was rehabbing his knee. That should tell you something.
However, one of the “newer” guys on the team, Jack Drury, chatted with media members on Saturday and he pointed out something that will make Avs fans happy. He listed a couple of guys who have taken on a leadership role—guys who have had a lot of playoff experience—and how they have really taken a leadership role in talking to the players in the room who may not have as much experience under their belt.
"We have a pretty veteran team. Everyone's got playoff experience, so everyone knows what this is about."
— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) May 16, 2026
"Nate and Landy and Cale and Toews have all done a great job preparing us and making sure everyone's ready to go."
- Jack Drury 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/YkHIL78UF5
Colorado has 13 players 30-years-old or older on this year’s team. That is a lot of leadership potential, and clearly, it is paying off. When you have a young team, I think there are a lot of times where leadership would be very necessary. The Avalanche missed out on the playoffs in five of Gabriel Landeskog’s first six seasons.
That’s not meant to be a dig at Landeskog, it’s just a fact.
One of the awesome examples of the leadership and determination of the Avalanche is their series-clinching win over the Wild. They were down 3-0 after the first period, but came back to win 4-3, thanks to a game-tying goal with 1:23 left on the clock by Nathan MacKinnon.
Then, an unlikely hero saved the day officially, with Brett Kulak winning it all in overtime. With Kulak’s contract coming to an end, the Avs would be wise to get a deal done to keep him around.
The Avalanche have so much talent and potential, on and off the ice. Their leadership has been going a long way for a while, and it’s multiple guys chipping in.
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