Denver. They have known each other for over ten years, won the World Cup together in 2017 and are almost like brothers.
But when Victor Heidmann and Gabriel Landskog now face each other in the most important Stanley Cup final in recent decades, the relationship is over.
so far.
“Victor is a really good friend but no friends in the corners,” Landeskog told Sportbladet before the first round at the Ball Arena in Denver tonight.
Most Swedish NHL professionals know each other in one way or another. After all, the hockey world is very young and as elite players, they usually played together on national teams at different levels – and later clashed against each other on North American circuits.
But some are of course better friends than others and some are very close to each other.
as such Victor Hedman And the Gabriel Landskog. They met a little over a decade ago, grew up in the best league in the world together, did several tournaments with Tre Kronor together and are today siblings.
“We share agent, Peter Wallen, and we first met at an event he set up for his players around 2011,” says Landeskog.
– Then I was a new recruit at 18 and I hardly knew anything, but Victor had already played for a few years in the league and considered me a big brother and taught me a lot about life in the NHL. Since then, the relationship has only grown and today we are very close. But now it’s mostly about kids and stuff when we talk.
“Really a good friend”
Hedman asserts:
– Yes, “Gabi” is really a good friend, we have known each other for a very long time, he says.
– The last time we heard? Yes, that was a few weeks ago and we talked about the kids as usual.
Victor and Gabriel, like I said, played Tre Kronor together on several occasions, including the 2016 Toronto World Cup, and shared a major joint victory a few years ago.
Yes, we won the World Cup gold together in 2017 and that was really special for both of us. Gabriel says it is definitely one of the highlights of his career.
Now, however, a greater highlight awaits. At least for one of them. Landeskogs Colorado and Hedmans Tampa meet in the Stanley Cup Final that kicks off in Denver tonight and the winner will go into forever (in the case of the Victors for the third year in a row, unbelievably).
And so the friendship ends as well.
exactly the contrary.
– I’ve never played such a big game against someone so close to him and it would be fun to face him, “Gabbe” isn’t kind straight on the ice, says “Vigge”.
– But sure, we put friendship on ice for a while. You “delete” the mobile number for a few weeks.
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“No friends in the corners”
The captain of the avalanche feels the same way.
– “Vigge” is a very good friend, but there are no friends in the corners, he laughs.
Scientists – and many others – are intensely debating which of the blue and yellow stars will eventually drink the expensive champagne of the legendary Lord Stanley’s dent.
They themselves express great respect for the opponent – but also great confidence in their ability.
Heydmann:
– This is going to be the toughest challenge so far, Avalanche is very good and only lost two games during the whole qualifier. But we’re excited, and we know what we can do.
Landskog:
– It’s obviously going to be tough. They have been the best in the league for several years and won two consecutive championships. But if you want to be the best, you also have to beat the best, and we want to be the best.
When the blue and yellow finalists reactivate each other’s phone numbers, it remains to be seen.
First you have to see them in the corner …