This story originally appeared in Mile High Sports Magazine. Read the full digital edition.
Connor Cape sat down with the Avalanche captain to preview the 2017-18 season and the Avs’ upcoming trip to Landeskog’s native Sweden as part of the NHL Global Series.
Connor Cape: We talked to Erik Johnson last week and he mentioned it was an extremely long offseason. Now almost two weeks into camp, what is it that you’ve liked about the team’s effort thus far?
Gabriel Landeskog: I think camp’s been really good. I think everybody’s really showing that they’re ready to work. Everybody’s hungry to get back into things and everybody’s focused and ready on the ice, whether it’s for practice or we’re stepping into the gym for workouts, and I think that’s something that’s going to translate onto the ice.
Jared Bednar really seemed to stress conditioning in the offseason. Is there a noticeable difference with regard to the shape guys are in coming into camp?
I think so. Obviously the fitness testing was on a different level this year, and I think that’s good because we’ve got to be. We all take our conditioning very seriously in the offseason. It’s just a matter of making sure we’ve gone through the same amount of things as far as training camp. I think when you have a tough training camp like we have, I think it’s going to bring us closer together as a team to go through something like that. It’s definitely been the toughest training camp so far in my career, and I know I’ve heard that from a few guys as well, so I think it will translate on the ice.
Anything specifically that’s made it tough?
Just the testing that we did and the skating that we did. We had some skating tests that were pretty tough. At the same time, I think everybody for the most part did really well and everybody showed up to camp prepared and in shape. I feel good. I feel ready to go and ready to play some hockey.
You were named a captain at age 19. Do you have anything you tell the young guys?
I stress the same thing every year with new players – just to go out and have fun and enjoy it. Obviously, have your ears open and ask a lot of questions, because at the end of the day if you don’t do that you get into this comfort zone that’s not good to be in. You better ask questions and keep your ears peeled to listen up. There’s always pointers going around the dressing room, always situations that are being talked about in the room. I think if you’re a young guy, make sure to pay attention.
How excited were you when you heard the Avs and Senators will be playing a game in Stockholm, Sweden – your hometown – as part of the Global Series?
I couldn’t have even dreamed of a better script than that. I mean, going home and playing NHL hockey in my hometown in front of family and friends, I couldn’t have imagined anything better than that. On top of that, I’ve got one of my best buddies, childhood buddies, playing on the other team in Fredrik Claesson. We spend about every day together in the offseason. We’ve known each other since we were 13, 14 years old, so it’ll be a blast. I’m excited, obviously, to go there and play games in front of family and friends, but also to show these guys and show my teammates around my hometown. I’m looking forward to it.
You’re going to be there for a few days. What are the must-sees and the must-dos?
I’ll make sure the guys bring their winter coats, because it’s going to be cold come November. It’s not the same as when you go in the summertime. In the summertime you can see and do a whole lot of things, but I think for now when we go in November it’ll be more restaurant visits, things like that. I’m sure we’ll do some team bonding activities that I’ll make sure that I try to get set up. Who knows? I’ll try to get a poll around the room, see what they want to do. There’s really good museums around there and good things to see, so we’ll see.
Any good cuisine? Any must-haves?
We’ve got a pretty big mix of what we’ve got over here. There’s all kinds of seafood, steakhouses, things like that. But there’s also authentic Swedish food as far as the classic meatballs and potatoes and lingonberry sauce, things like that. It’ll be fun. I’ll make sure to set up good restaurants for the boys.
Why are these overseas games important? What do the fans there gain from the NHL’s presence, and what does the NHL gain from experiencing hockey outside of the U.S. and Canada?
I think it’s important because I know in Sweden we have a tremendous hockey culture – really great tradition as far as hockey. I think for the people in Sweden to get to witness some NHL hockey, the best hockey in the world, in Stockholm and knowing that we’re coming all the way there to show them, I think that will be really appreciated. I think they’ll really enjoy it. Growing up, I watched guys like Peter Forsberg and Nicklas Lidstrom and Mats Sundin and these guys. Obviously, with the great amount of Swedish hockey players there are right now in the NHL, I think that’ll translate to the next, coming generation. This just gives them another opportunity to watch us up close.
You were on Sweden’s 2014 Olympic team that won silver. Now you’re not going to be able to do that any more. Have you had some time to digest that?
I think it’s too bad. It’s just disappointing, really. It’s such a great event and such an amazing honor to do for your country. Really, I think other than winning the Stanley Cup and playing in the NHL I think the Olympic Games are really close up there. It’s a big honor. I’m just fortunate enough to have played in one and got away with a medal. That’s something that will just mean that much more to me now.
What’s the last thing you watched on Netflix?
I just started “Ozark,” the TV show. I watched two episodes yesterday. I’m going to crank out another one this afternoon. I like it so far.
Are you a socks guy, or a no socks guy in skates?
I’m a socks guy. My dad used to play hockey; he’d always tell me to go no socks, but I guess I’m not as tough as dad was. [Jarome] Iginla used to do it as well. For some reason, guys like that. For me, I don’t sweat a lot – armpits or hands or anything like that – but my feet sweat a ton. I’ve tried it when I was younger, but it’s just soaked in there and I feel like I get blister much easier
Are you a fashion guy at all? How do you feel about the new uniforms?
Our new uniforms? I like them. I think the jerseys are nice; adidas did a really good job, you know, the fabric, the feel of them. I like them; I think it’s an improvement.