hey all!  Chuck here with this week’s edition of Foxy Friday!

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Here at WUYS, we do not discriminate.  We love all hockey players equally.  Young. Old. Canadian. American. European.  It don’t matter.  They’re all cool in our book.

Today, we’re feeling a little cougar-ish..okay a LOT cougar-ish…but not in a South Florida-divorcee-white-jeans-wearing-white-wine-drinking-sorta-way.  We’re totes classier than that.  We like red wine better.  Or gin.

The subject of our adoration and Foxy Friday honoree this week is a mere 18 years old.

18, people.   You don’t want to know what we were doing at 18.  it probably involved keg stands at West Campus frat parties and dumping dish soap into the fountain in front of the COM building at BU.

This young man is doing none of that.  He’s a bona fide, real life, NHLer.

So, why have we seen fit to grace Gabriel with this highly prestigious honor?

Well, isn’t it obvious…

But in all seriousness, there are plenty of other reason why we thing Gabriel is foxy.

• He’s a solid 6’1″, 204lbs.
• He’s Swedish.
• He was a first round draft pick for the Avs in last year’s draft.
• At 17, he was youngest player in 30 years to wear the ‘C’ ‘for the Kitchener Rangers & 1st European Captain in their history.
• Also wore the ‘C’ for Sweden’s Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 teams.
• And his Djurgarden team at the age of 6.
• Made Swedish Elite League debut at 16 years and 90 days.  Youngest player in Djurgarden history.
• Most embarrassing hockey moment: Going on to the ice with his skate guards on in front of 6,000 Kitchener fans.
• His childhood idol is Peter Forsberg…who also happens to be Swedish…and to which Gabriel has often been compared to.  We’re going to start calling him Foppa 2.0.

NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards on Gabriel Landeskog…
“He is a good-size guy who is solid on his skates, not afraid to take the puck to the net or battle for it along the boards. His skating is very good in all areas. He plays the game with so much passion, he plays the game hard, he’s a great mentor for players that are younger and older, maturity beyond his years. (He) doesn’t need one game in the American league next year — he should step right into the NHL. I think the team that gets him next year is going to get a player that helps them win a Stanley Cup.”

Remember this face. In 5 years, I'm going to be pretty boss.

Pretty bold words if you ask us.  But we sort of have to agree.  For what we’ve seen so far, the Foppa 2.0 has mega potential, for sure.  He’s big and skilled and great with the puck.  All the thing you want in a guy you drafted #2 overall.

Avs are 6-3 this young season and so far, Gabriel has 6 points (4 G, 2 A).   Not a bad start for a 18-year-old in his first season.  We’ve got our eyes on him this season.

Rookie of the Year?  Maybe.  But we are taking applications for a new Rookie of our Lives….

Learn more about Foppa 2.0 here.

Tags: colorado avalanche, Foxy Friday, Gabriel Landeskog, peter forsberg