Colorado Avalanche make Gabriel Landeskog youngest captain in history -NHL Update
The Colorado Avalanche showed the world just how much they believe in their top pick of the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft (second overall behind Ryan Nugent-Hopkins), Gabriel Landeskog, as the franchise made him the youngest team captain
in league history.
Landeskog was called in to meet with head coach of the Colorado team, Joe Sacco, and even in his wildest dreams, the 19-year-old could not have imagined that he would be named captain on that very spot.
After a brief ceremony in the Colorado Avalanche locker room, Gabriel Landeskog was speechless as to what just happened, but is definitely confident and excited to start the season.
"I had no clue. I didn’t have any idea what [the meeting] was about," Landeskog. "I was a little bit shocked at first. I didn’t expect this at all, especially this early in my career. But I feel like I’m ready for it and this organization feels like I’m
ready for it."
Being named as the ‘Most NHL-ready’ prospect by league scouts prior to the entry draft, Landeskog definitely made a huge impact on the Colorado Avalanche club and nearly got them into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Although the Avalanche failed to make it by
an inch, experts are putting their money down on Landeskog to become one of the next big names in the league.
"It’s something you dream about as a kid, just being a part of an organization like the Avs and getting the honor to put the ‘C’ on with the history that this club has – [former captains] Joe Sakic and Adam Foote and obviously Milan Hejduk," Landeskog added.
"It’s a pretty humbling experience. I’m really excited and I’m looking forward to the challenge."
He is 11 days younger in his achievement as team captain than Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby, who was also bestowed the title at a very young age.
There were a number of names being taken over the offseason as to which player would be given the rank, but without a doubt, no one could have imagined that Gabriel Landeskog would be next in line and conferred such a rank.
He had 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists) in 82 games last season.
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