He is not known for holding back on the ice.
But once Gabriel Landeskog had to repent properly.
– I only felt two bricks in the side of the helmet, he says in the podcast Släpp Sargen.
When the Colorado Avalanche recently became Stanley Cup champions for the first time in over 20 years, Gabriel Landeskog was one of the big heroes. He may not score the most goals or assists, but few players in the league are known for their will to fight the way Landeskog is – and that’s precisely why he captained the team for so many years.
“Then I was scared”
Landeskog is the given leader of Colorado’s team. The one who always takes the fight, the one who never backs down and the one who is never afraid to protect his teammates. That made him the youngest team captain in NHL history, and it was precisely those qualities that were highlighted so much by pundits when the Avalanche finally got to lift the Stanley Cup again.
Over the years, Landeskog has ended up in the hood of a bunch of pranksters, and in the podcast Släpp Sargen, he is asked directly whether he is afraid or not when he enters the battles on the ice. He then recalls an incident a few years ago when he entered into a duel with one of the league’s best defenders, Roman Josi.
– Once I was scared, it was when I tackled Roman Josi in Nashville. Shea Weber was the back partner, and maybe I didn’t think about that when I went down to the rim. Back then I was a bit of a prankster, he says in the podcast.
“Knew only two bricks”
Shea Weber has always been known for his majestic shot, and is overall a physically strong player.
– You don’t have time to think much either. All of a sudden I had run over Josi, and then I just feel that two men are coming towards me. One was Paul Gaustad, and he’s a bit of a heavyweight, and the other was Shea Weber. In the end it was Weber who caught me and I only felt two bricks in the side of the helmet, he says.
However, Landeskog quickly understood the seriousness of the situation, and did his best not to become just a punching bag out on the ice.
– I thought I had to start cranking, otherwise I would be lowered properly. You have a few little tricks that you try to use. I’m trying to grab his bicep with one arm, and the other is just trying to punch. Not giving him a chance to start cranking. Close your eyes, keep your chin down – and then just crank, he says.
READ MORE: Foppa’s wonderful words before the charity match – which completely scared the life out of Gabriel Landeskog