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The Future of Gabriel Landeskog

May 8, 2012, 2:56 PM ET [36 Comments]
Aaron Musick
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The nice thing about watching Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs is it is just like watching an older version of Gabriel Landeskog.

Brown has been a 50-60 point player in the regular season, usually with goals ranging from the mid 20's to the low 30's. Brown won't lead the league in goals or points. What he does bring, that won't be seen on a scoresheet. He hits, plays well in the defensive end and can usually be found around the net mixing things up.

Sound familiar? Even in one season, have all become trademarks of Landeskog.

Brown does all the little things a team needs to do and has a way of elevating his game during the playoffs

In 21 career playoff games, Brown has 18 points, eight of them goals, two of those game winners. Aside from the play of Jonathan Quick, Brown has been the Kings' best player with 11 points in nine playoff games.

Brown is nearly a point per game player in the playoffs, when everything matters the most. It isn't just the points but it is the way he plays. He's been hitting everything that moves, especially if the jersey says "Sedin" on the back. The hits are clean and can change the momentum of the game. His hits charge up the Kings and anger the opposition, making them take bad penalties, just like this.



UPS can't even deliver all that Brown does despite their best efforts. Then maybe Landeskog should be called DHL, the European shipping confederate, because he delivers the same services as Brown.

This season, Landeskog was the Avs' leader in hits, shots, plus/minus and goals. When the team needed a lift, he was able to deliver a good hit, hard-working shift or shot that put the Avs back in the game. He even would go Leeroy Jenkins near the end of the game when the Avs were down a goal.



As a rookie, Landeskog produced only two fewer assists than Brown. Brown demolished him in total hits with 293 to 219 but Landeskog could put up those kinds of number once he adds some strength. Landeskog is still only 19 and as such, has the physique to match. Once adds 5-10 pounds to his frame and becomes overall stronger, he could be the premiere power forward.

It might also be a matter of time before Landeskog joins Brown in yet another category: captain. Even without a letter, Landeskog showed his leadership in the second half of last year. He talked the talk about consistent play and players needing to step up and then he went out and did it.

He stepped up and lead by example, one of the reasons he could become the captain of the Avalanche in 2 or 3 years.

Watching Brown play in the playoffs only makes it exciting to think what Landeskog will become once he completely develops.
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