Avalanche make Gabriel Landeskog the youngest captain in NHL history

Colorado Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog, right, of Sweden, checks Vancouver Canucks' Alex Burrows during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche have made Gabriel Landeskog the youngest captain in NHL history.

At 19 years 286 days, Landeskog is 11 days younger than Sidney Crosby was when he was given the "C" by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007.

Landeskog was the second overall pick in the 2011 draft and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year last season.

He had 18 goals and 52 points for the Avs while playing all 82 games. The teenager finished with a plus-20 rating.

Landeskog takes over the captaincy from Milan Hejduk, who recently informed coach Joe Sacco that he wanted to relinquish the role.