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Keeler: Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog is Colorado royalty. But Avs can’t afford to wait on him anymore.

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Keeler: Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog is Colorado royalty. But Avs can’t afford to wait on him anymore.


Hope is no longer a strategy, O Captain, my Captain. Not a working strategy. Not a Stanley Cup-winning strategy, at any rate. Without Gabe Landeskog, the Avs are stuck spinning their wheels in neutral, pining for the hockey gods to give them a push.

“I’d like to be able for him to come back and be able to play,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said late Friday after his team’s playoff dreams ended with a gut punch of a loss at home, this time to Dallas, for a second straight spring. “And I think that can happen. And if anybody can do it, Gabe can do it.”

Amen. If you’re not rooting like heck for Landy to be back out on that ice, raising the bar and setting the tone, you don’t have a soul. Let’s be clear: The Avs aren’t in this championship window without him.

But let’s be clear on something else, too, the uncomfortable reality even if you wear burgundy and blue glasses: This franchise has been running in place for almost two years, in part, because of him. Because of that blasted knee. Because of those blasted surgeries. Because of that blasted hope.

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None of this is Landy’s fault. Are you kidding? Nobody this side of Nathan MacKinnon wants to finish what the ’22 Stanley Cup champs started more than big No. 92, where the buck, and the bull junk, always stops.

But like the castaways on Gilligan’s Island, the Avs look as if they’ve spent 18 months stranded on the beach, singing songs by the campfire, waiting for a rescue ship that may or may not ever come.

“I’m optimistic and hopeful,” Bednar said of his absent captain. “(But) I don’t think we got close to getting him back (this postseason).”

It’s the teasing, the hope, that kills you. And we get it. You completely understand why the Avs would treat Landy’s knee with kid gloves. Why they’d give him all the time he needs. As with Valeri Nichushkin, the other elephant in Bednar’s locker room, nobody on this roster steps in and does what the captain did — and presumably still can.

Landeskog’s absence was especially felt in this second-round series, when a team as sound, physical and deep as Dallas needed to have its teeth rattled a few times. When Jamie Benn cheap-shotted Devon Toews in Game 2, for example, there were no immediate reprisals, no one stepping forward to enforce on-ice justice.

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“What, do you just want us to take penalties and fight?” veteran defenseman Jack Johnson replied after Game 6 when I asked about this roster’s toughness. “Is that what you want?

“I mean, toughness comes out in different ways. If you just want penalties and to fight, you’re not going to get very far in the playoffs.

“The team that won (in 2022) had plenty of toughness … I don’t think that anyone looked down the list of that (title) team and saw a lot of goons.”

No, but they did look down that list to see Landy and Nazem Kadri — two dudes who gave on this stage as good as they got.

The longer general manager Chris MacFarland is hamstrung by sentiment, the longer this championship window remains in stasis. Was MacKinnon a frustrating watch, at times, against the Stars’ defense? No question. But as long as Gabe’s future and Nichushkin’s status with the Avs are murky, so are your parade plans.

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It’s that simple.

O Captain, my Captain, come back soon. Or don’t come back at all. The island’s getting lonely. Lord Stanley’s skies are getting darker sooner here with each passing year.

“I don’t know. I don’t know the answer to that,” Bednar said of Gabe and Val. “You hate having that uncertainty because it makes it hard to plan … for management, for Chris and Joe (Sakic) …

“Those are obviously a couple of guys who have significant cap hits. I don’t know where that goes or (how) far this goes this summer. That’s a challenge. That’s a big challenge.”

It is. Meanwhile, the wheels keep spinning. And this much is clear: The hockey gods are done doing Bednar any more favors. From here on out, if the Avs are going to move forward, MacFarland’s going to have get out of the car and do the pushing himself.

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Former Denver Nuggets NBA Champ’s Future Plans Revealed

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Former Denver Nuggets NBA Champ’s Future Plans Revealed



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The Denver Nuggets could lose Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in NBA free agency.

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After a run with the Denver Nuggets, the two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit the free agency market to sign a lucrative multi-year contract in 2024.

Caldwell-Pope landed a $66 million offer from the Orlando Magic during the summer of 2024. The third season of the deal costs $21.6 million, and it’s up to Caldwell-Pope if he wants to exercise that or become a free agent again.

As the contract is currently on the Memphis Grizzlies‘ books, the team recently landed an update on the veteran’s plans from the NBA insider, Michael Scotto.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s Future Plans Revealed

Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-PopeNuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 04: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #5 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass in front of James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers during a 102-100 Clippers win at Crypto.com Arena on April 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

via Michael Scotto, HoopsHype: Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to exercise his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, league sources say. It’s the last year of a 3-year, $66 million deal negotiated by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. More on KCP and Ja Morant on @YESNetwork.

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to exercise his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, league sources say. It’s the last year of a 3-year, $66 million deal negotiated by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. More on KCP and Ja Morant on @YESNetwork

The 33-year-old guard spent just one season with the Magic.

In Orlando, Caldwell-Pope appeared in 77 games. He averaged 8.7 points, while shooting 43.9% from the field and hitting on 34.2% of his threes.

Last summer, the Magic cut ties with Caldwell-Pope in the Desmond Bane blockbuster. The veteran’s first season with the Grizzlies included 51 appearances. He averaged 8.4 points while shooting 31.6% from three.

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Back in late February, the Grizzlies announced that Caldwell-Pope would undergo season-ending surgery on his pinky finger.

Although Caldwell-Pope plans to pick up his final option, that doesn’t guarantee he is staying with the Grizzlies for the entire 2026-2027 NBA season. Veteran players with a notable resume on expiring deals tend to get moved to contenders when their current team is in the midst of a rebuild.

An NBA Veteran Worth Looking At

Nuggets' Nikola Jokic and Kentavious Caldwell-PopeNuggets' Nikola Jokic and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 25: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles as Nikola Jokic #15 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #5 of the Denver Nuggets defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden on January 25, 2024 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Caldwell-Pope has been in the NBA since 2013.

Coming out of Georgia, he was selected eighth overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2013 NBA Draft.

After a four-season run with the Pistons, Caldwell-Pope joined the Los Angeles Lakers. During his four-year run with the Lakers, Caldwell-Pope won his first NBA Championship.

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The Nuggets traded for the veteran guard during the 2022 offseason. He was moved for Monte Morris and Will Barton. When the Nuggets picked up Caldwell-Pope, he was rewarded with a $30 million extension over two years.

Before leaving Denver, Caldwell-Pope posted averages of 10.4 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds, while shooting 41.5% from three.

He was a member of the Nuggets’ 2023 NBA Championship squad.

Justin Grasso Justin Grasso is an NBA reporter, covering trending league news, transactions, injuries, and player developments. He is a credentialed journalist with nearly a decade of insider access. More about Justin Grasso

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Blustery Conditions Forecast for Rockies’ Home Opener – Denver Today

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Blustery Conditions Forecast for Rockies’ Home Opener – Denver Today


The Rockies’ home opener at Coors Field will be played under the shadow of an imposing, atmospheric landscape, as strong winds and dropping temperatures threaten to disrupt the game day experience.Denver Today

The Colorado Rockies are set to play their home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, but the weather forecast calls for partly sunny skies and strong winds gusting up to 40 mph. Temperatures will start around 55 degrees at first pitch but steadily drop throughout the game, reaching 52 degrees by the final inning.

Why it matters

The Rockies’ home opener is a highly anticipated event for baseball fans in Denver, and the blustery conditions could impact the game play, fan experience, and overall atmosphere at Coors Field. Strong winds can affect pitching, batting, and fielding, while the dropping temperatures may require fans to bundle up more than expected.

The details

The Pinpoint Weather Alert team forecasts that Friday’s game will see partly sunny skies and gusty winds, with gusts potentially reaching up to 40 mph. At the 2:10 pm first pitch, the temperature will be around 55 degrees, but it will gradually decrease to 54 degrees by the fifth inning and 52 degrees by the end of the game.

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  • The Rockies’ home opener is scheduled for Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • First pitch is set for 2:10 pm.
  • Temperatures are expected to start at 55 degrees and drop to 52 degrees by the end of the game.

The players

Colorado Rockies

The professional baseball team based in Denver, Colorado, that plays in the National League West division of Major League Baseball.

Philadelphia Phillies

The professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that plays in the National League East division of Major League Baseball.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Fans attending the game should dress in layers and be prepared for the changing weather conditions throughout the afternoon.

The takeaway

The blustery forecast for the Rockies’ home opener highlights the unpredictable nature of springtime weather in Colorado and the importance of being prepared for potential changes in temperature and wind during outdoor sporting events.

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Paint the Town Bright, Local Artists at Bright Space Murals Brings Light to Denver Communities — The Denver VOICE

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Paint the Town Bright, Local Artists at Bright Space Murals Brings Light  to Denver Communities — The Denver VOICE


Story by Ethan Clark

Photos by Giles Clasen

Art is one of the most meaningful parts of Denver’s identity. From the various art districts and museums to the sculptures at the Convention Center, art has defined how people see Denver almost as much as the mountains that serve as the city’s backdrop. While most of Denver’s art scene is confined to specific places that require people to go out of their way to see, one art form breaks the mold and brings color and life to even the most unimportant places: murals.

Murals are a unique medium, as they offer a degree of freedom that other art forms lack. They can be found on the sides of shops to attract customers, in schools to convey a warm, welcoming environment to students, and in businesses, neighborhoods, and communal spaces.

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In an interview with Denver VOICE, Denver-based artists Andreas Kremer and Reina Luna, the co-founders of Bright Space Murals, discussed how they use art to bring the community together.

THE ARTISTS BEHIND BRIGHT SPACE MURALS

Andreas Kremer and Reina Luna, who are partners, created Bright Space Murals to bring art to businesses, schools, or anyone else interested in enhancing their surroundings. Kremer, originally from Maryland, moved to Colorado to pursue his love of snowboarding. He spent a winter working at Keystone Resort before moving to Denver to work for Never Summer, a popular snowboard brand. Reina Luna, who was born and raised in Denver, has been a massage therapist for over seven years and has had a passion for art for decades. She and Kremer met through a mutual friend after the COVID lockdowns ended and the world began to reopen.

Kremer became interested in painting murals after watching the YouTube channel Ten Hundred, and his job at Never Summer offered him the opportunity to paint one of his own.

According to Kremer, he was inspired to paint an ugly, rusting shipping container outside the Never Summer factory, wanting to make sure the first thing people entering the factory saw was more visually appealing. He said that he had never made anything like this before, but drafted a design to show the owners — who were impressed — and they gave him the chance to try.

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Kremer said the project was difficult, but turned out to be a great success and launched his career as a muralist. Luna, who helped with Kremer’s first mural, was daunted by the challenge this project presented.

“I was way out of my comfort zone, and I had no idea how we were going to do this, but [I told him] if you want to do this, I will help you out,” Luna said. “It turned out really good, and I was really proud of the hard work.” 

“These murals are really not for us, they’re for either this space or this community, or the area where we’re leaving it,” Kremer said.

“The murals [are] an extension of us to the community, sharing our own creative effort in a space that’s public for everyone to enjoy and interpret in your own way,” Luna said.

Since creating their first mural, Kremer and Luna have continued painting murals for anyone interested in their art. They also host workshops with local high schools, including George Washington High School and Prep Academy. During these workshops, students design and make the mural with their guidance.

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