It was quite the surprise for Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who appeared in 60 games this season for his first regular-season action since 2021-22, which eventually culminated in the Stanley Cup.
Landeskog, who didn’t play from the spring of 2022 to the spring of 2025, underwent four knee surgeries, including knee cartilage replacement surgery, and became the first NHL player to return from such a procedure. He was named the recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.”
Landeskog had no idea he’d won the award, and was surprised by his wife Melissa, along with a special message from his doctor and several of his teammates.
Gabriel Landeskog was certainly not expecting a second award to appear when he sat down for this interview!
Watch as Landeskog's family surprises him with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the way he exemplified perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.… pic.twitter.com/AsaxY7hpgc
— NHL (@NHL) June 9, 2026
“I was just oblivious to the fact of anything,” Landeskog said via NHL.com. “Everything I had heard about the Masterton was that it was going to be in a couple of weeks. And even when (the reporter) handed me the iPad and people were talking about resilience and my journey, it still didn’t really clue in.
“I’d be lying to you if I told you the Masterton hadn’t crossed my mind at some point. The amount of people that have helped me along the way, and especially my family — especially Melissa, Linnea, and Luke and Ella — came to join us last year after I had made a comeback, but there’s been lots of people that have helped me along the way.
“You get nowhere in this life by yourself, you truly don’t. Very appreciative, and this is to all of them as well.”
Landeskog, who was named the captain of the Avalanche in 2012, was also a finalist for the award last season.
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