Last summer the Colorado made a huge commitment to Gabriel Landeskog, making the 2011 second overall pick, and 2011-12 Calder Trophy winner, the youngest team captain in NHL history. This season they have made their young star winger another huge commitment, signing him to a 7 year contract extension that will begin in the 2014-15 season.
The 20 year old Landeskog, had nine goals and 17 points in 36 games for the Avalanche last season. In his Calder Trophy winning campaign in 2011-12 he scored 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 82 games for the Avalanche.
The Avalanche did not release official financial terms, however it is believed that the contract is worth $39 million, which would give Landeskog an AAV or cap hit of $5.57 million per season.
“Gabe is and will continue to be a large part of the foundation of this hockey team for many years to come,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic. “Signing our captain to a long-term extension demonstrates the commitment of Stan and Josh Kroenke to this franchise and to our fan base. In just two seasons, Gabe has already proven to be a great asset to our organization both on and off the ice. The fact that he has agreed to a long-term deal shows that he believes in this team, his teammates and the direction of this franchise moving forward.”
With other young forwards like Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene, and Ryan O’Reilly around, Landeskog is at the head of a team with a bright future. He will continue to take the leadership reigns for the Avalanche as they attempt to make strides back towards the playoffs and Stanley Cup Contention.
“I would like to thank the Kroenke family and the entire Avalanche organization for their trust and belief in me,” Landeskog said. “I love Colorado and I love being a part of this wonderful community. There is no other place I’d rather be than in Denver wearing the Avalanche logo. I am looking forward to training camp and the upcoming season.”
It will be interesting to see if the new management and coaching team of Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy can return the Avalanche to the championship contending caliber of their playing days, with a guy like Landeskog leading the charge.
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