Colorado Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog emerges as all-rounder, potential Calder Trophy candidate
Gabriel Landeskog might have been picked second overall in the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but the Swedish left winger has definitely emerged as one of the top candidates looking for the Calder Memorial Trophy this time around.
At only 19, Landeskog has kept, what used to be a struggling Colorado team, as one of those clubs that are contesting for the playoff spot and will be doing so till the final moment of the 2011-2012 NHL regular season.
For Colorado Avalanche head coach, Joe Sacco, he is the most deserving at the moment with what he has shown in his first major league season.
"To me, he's Rookie of the Year right now," Sacco said. "We use him in so many situations -- even strength, power play and on the penalty kill. He plays on what is arguably our top line. He plays late in games when we are up a goal or when we are down a goal. He does everything well."
The young forward has an amazing 40 point (18 goals, 22 assists) at the moment and has been very consistent in playing with the team with his 65 appearances with Colorado up until now.
Asking Landeskog about his views on him being a potential winner of the award for the player showing most proficiency in his first NHL season, only a humble response should be expected.
"Oh, I don't know," Landeskog said. "There's a lot of ups and downs. It's been a lot of fun. Like I said before the season, as long as I keep learning every day and making progress, I'm going to be fine in the end. But I don't want to sit down right now and think about how things have been going."
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who was the first overall draft pick by Edmonton Oilers, has also put up some impressive numbers, just two points behind Landeskog with 38 (15 goals, 23 assists) in 43 games.
The Edmonton rookie faced some injuries during the season as well, limiting his game played record which could have been higher than Landeskog’s, but seeing where the Oilers currently stand, Nugent-Hopkins just does not seem to be as deserving.
Colorado is a few games away from getting a playoff spot and seeing how Avalanche has won four of their past four-games, considering them in that position with Landeskog in the leading role is not hard at all to imagine.
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