Captain Gabriel Landeskog says winning the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl is a step in the right direction for the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avalanche, 10/21 to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since their last Final appearance in 2001, swept the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final to win the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl which comes with a traditional superstition.
Can't touch this
Colorado will have the opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup against either the two-time defending champions Tampa Bay Lightning or the New York Rangers, whose series is currently tied at 2-2.
Amongst many players, the feeling is that the bowl should neither be touched or hoisted as the Stanley Cup is indicative of the true champion and as such is the only trophy that should be celebrated as such.
Having never been in the situation before, Landeskog admitted to consulting with General Manager Joe Sakic who led the Avs to two Stanley Cups as a player about what he should do before deciding to hold each handle alongside associate Captain Nathan MacKinnon for a full team photo shot.
In doing so, Colorado joined the Vegas Golden Knights (2018) as the only team to touch the bowl since 2006-07. The Golden Knights would go on to lose in five games to the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final.
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Stepping stone to glory
Of the 14 teams that did not touch the bowl in the previous 15 seasons, eight went on to win the Stanley Cup, most recently the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
Landeskog said to the media: "We were trying to figure out whether to touch it or not. Some guys wanted it, some guys didn't.
"We asked Joe and he said, 'Do whatever you want. Touch it.' So, a couple of us touched it. It's not the one we really came for, and it doesn't really mean that much to us. So, it's just a step in the right direction."
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