Hockey players often judge themselves by their team-first attitude before all else, and Avs’ captain Gabe Landeskog, a left wing, says his affable Finnish linemate Mikko Rantanen excels in part because of that approach.
“He’s an easy guy to be around,” Landeskog said. “He treats everybody well. He’s a good teammate. He knows how to have fun here at the rink, and make it fun for everyone else. And he also knows how to work.”
Rantanen feels the same about Landeskog, and suggested that that’s just normal behavior for the Nordic neighbors.
“I don’t know any grumpy Finns or Swedes,” Rantanen said.