Captain skates are so much better when the captain is around.
As players have started to trickle into town to prepare for training camp and the new season, the captain has led the charge for skates at Family Sports. Informal practices with Gabe Landeksog present and a full participant? That’s a nice change. It’s been four long years since we’ve seen this.
Among the others that have skated in recent weeks, Brent Burns is in town and on the ice. Brock Nelson also skated before making his way to Plymouth, Mich., for the USA Hockey orientation camp. And of course, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews are in Calgary for Canada’s camp.
The Avs also have quite a few younger players skating. Nikita Prishchepov has been a staple of these skates, as well as Zakhar Bardakov, Sean Behrens, and recently, Gavin Brindley.
Behrens will participate in the rookie showcase at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch coming up on Sept. 12. And Brindley, Colorado’s most recent trade acquisition, is hoping to find a role with the club after being part of the deal that sent Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
I’d suspect next week after Labor Day is when these skates will start to intensify on a regular basis. Perhaps that includes appearances from other notables like Mackenzie Blackwood, Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, and Martin Necas.
The Avs open camp three weeks from today — on Sept. 18 at Family Sports. And per usual, all skates at that rink will be open to the public.
