Expectations around Gabriel Landeskog should keep climbing.
After missing three seasons because of a knee injury, the Avalanche captain came back for a full regular season and played 60 games, finishing with 14 goals and 21 assists. That alone was a major comeback story. Getting back on the ice after that kind of absence is no small thing.
Now that he has shown he can return, the bar should rise. Landeskog is a top-six forward, and it’s fair to want more production from him than he delivered this past year. He looked good, but the numbers left room for more.
Colorado’s season was hard to criticize overall. The Avalanche won the Presidents’ trophy as the winngest team, and the regular season was about as close to ideal as a team can get.
Still, there was another level Landeskog could have reached. He missed 22 games during the regular season because of various injuries, and if he can stay healthy at 34-years-old, that would only strengthen his value as a player who can have a much bigger impact.
There’s also reason to believe age does not have to mean a steep drop-off. Brock Nelson is a useful example, even if the two players are different.
Nelson produced 33 goals and 32 assists for 65 points at 33-34 years old, and that kind of output shows what an older forward can still do. Landeskog has a case to follow that path.
His usage last season was also lighter than usual. He averaged 16:25 of ice time per game, which was the lowest mark of his career.
That made sense after three years away, and it helped that Colorado won 67% of its games (55-16-11). With teammates stepping up, there was less pressure for Landeskog to immediately look like the old version of himself.
That dynamic should change. His role ought to grow over time, especially with Valeri Nichushkin having been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets this offseason. And beyond the scoring, his leadership will matter even more with the new blood now in the organization.
The numbers will tell part of the story, but not all of it. Leadership won’t show up on the stat sheet. Still, if Landeskog takes another step in 2026-27, whether in points, presence or both, it could set off a domino effect for him and for the team around him.
In Other News...
Avalanche Fans Cant Ignore This Rantanen Trade Debate Anymore
The Avalanches decision to move Mikko Rantanen to Carolina still hangs over the franchise because it came down to contract-extension disagreements, not a lack of belief in his talent. Colorado got Martin Necas and Jack Drury back in the deal, then later sent Drury to Nashville, leaving Necas as the main on-ice piece tied to one of the biggest roster swings the team has made in years.
Necas gave Colorado a strong regular season, but his playoff struggles have only sharpened the comparison to Rantanen, who had already built a strong postseason rsum in Denver. For Avalanche fans, the debate is no longer about whether the trade happened, but whether the return can ever make up for losing a winger who was built for the spring spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face Looming Conflict As Quebec Eyes NHL Return
Talk of NHL expansion is back in the air, and Quebec City has quickly emerged as one of the more intriguing possibilities. The league is weighing new franchises in places like Atlanta and Kansas City, with another Canadian market also under consideration, while the old Nordiques trademark remains in the NHLs hands and could open the door to a familiar name if Quebec ever gets the green light.
For the Avalanche, the larger issue is what a renewed Quebec bid would mean for the leagues map and its identity in Canada. The NHL is currently operating with 33 teams after the Arizona Coyotes franchise was deactivated, so any move to add clubs would reshape the balance of the league and revive a long-running conversation about where hockey should grow next. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche May Have Found Another Goalie Prospect Worth Watching
Nikita Novosyolov has quickly become a name worth tracking in the Avalanche system. The 22-year-old goalie spent the past two seasons with Gornyak in the VHL, where his strong results helped put him on Colorados radar, and he also got a close-up look at the organization during development camp. For a team that always has an eye on its next wave of talent, adding a promising netminder is a useful bit of business.
Colorado moved to bring him in on June 1, 2026, and the next step should give the club a clearer read on how far he can go. Novosyolov is expected to open the 2026-27 season with the Avalanches ECHL affiliate in New Mexico, where the adjustment to North American pro hockey will be part of the test. Goaltenders can take a while to sort themselves out, but if he keeps trending the way he has, this could be the start of a longer conversation. [Read more 🡒]