Necas' breakout year with Avs includes 100-point season, playoff success and locker-room pranks

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog arrived at his locker stall and quickly noticed his shoe had been restrung in reverse. The forward from the Czech Republic feels more and more at home in Colorado since being acquired in a January 2025 deal that sent fan favorite Mikko Rantanen to Carolina ( he's now in Dallas ). Necas had a breakout season, too, as he skated on the same line with star center Nathan MacKinnon.

By PAT GRAHAM