In the NHL these days, when you are a top 5 choice in the annual Entry Draft, there are certain expectations that you can play in the NHL right away. You can browse recent drafts and find a multitude of players who went from performing that summer to jumping on the ice just months later to become the next wave of big stars in the NHL.
For the second overall selection in the 2011 draft Gabriel Landeskog he has a future teammate in Colorado’s Matt Duchene, who did exactly the same game back in 2009 that he can bring with him, he could give the Avalanche line-up an instant big boost. With a top 6 that includes Duchene, Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk, there is room to crack the lineup to become a force.
One who thinks Landeskog is currently NHL eligible is Kitchener Rangers’ coach Steve Spott, Landeskog’s junior hockey coach. Mockingly, Washington Times’s Stephen Whyno tells the winger the winger is ready to roll for the Avalanche and is not expecting him back at Kitchener next season.
“I spoke to Greg Sherman [Avalanche GM]; They’ve been pretty open and have been honest with me that they expect Gabe to be in Colorado next year, “said Spott. “You will have a younger group of guys so where he just marked it we won’t get it back. It’s unfortunate for Kitchener Ranger fans, but that’s our job. “
In last year’s draft, we saw five players (Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Jeff Skinner, Alexander Burmistrov, and Cam Fowler) advance straight into the NHL. It’s a little less clear in this year’s draft class who might stay and who might return to juniors and college hockey, but with Landeskog’s size, skills, and opportunity presented, he has a great chance of making a great first impression leave behind.
The chance for the Landeskog to get on board is there. Besides Duchene, Stastny and Hejduk, the Avalanche have David Jones, TJ Galiardi and Chuck Kobasew in the top six in the battle for time. If Peter Mueller can fully recover from his concussions, he would certainly have a place in that mix, but there is no schedule as to when, if at all, he can play again. These other players aren’t all that impressive and if Landeskog can endorse the idea of seizing the day he can be a top player for Colorado right away.
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