Roundup: A week of anger, heartbreak and resurgence in Denver sports
While hope is running dry for the Rockies, and the Nuggets mourn a coach, the Avs Captain finally returned to the ice
A week ago, the world of professional basketball was swept off its feet when news broke that the Nuggets had fired Head Coach Michael Malone. While GM Calvin Booth’s fate was inevitable, Malone’s departure just three games before the playoffs seemed utterly ridiculous.
The move has so far played off, with the team winning out under interm coach David Adelman. But, final judgment on the decision will come Saturday when the team faces the No. 5 seed Clippers in round one. More on that from MTSR later this week. Now onto the newsletter!
The Must Reads:
Landeskog returns to the ice with Colorado Eagles stint
While Nuggets fans coped with the loss of Malone, Avs fans saw the long awaited return of Gabriel Landaskog to the ice. Even if he wasn’t at Ball Arena. Landy suited up with the AHL Colorado Eagles for a two game conditioning stint.
He was returned to The Avs Tuesday, and the Swede’s nearly three year absence could end this weekend in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Xavier Michnewicz has the story of the captain’s stint in Loveland.
Off court drama, poor record lead to Malone and Booth firings
A Cold War between head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth has been brewing since the very beginning of the season and owner Josh Kronke decided to end it. Read about the head coach’s and general manager’s tension that resulted in the end of their tenure.
How Kyle Freeland is revitalizing his career
Kyle Freeland was the Rockies ace in 2018. From that point, the trajectory of his career was spiraling downward until a promising start in 2025. Baylan Wysuph looks at how Freeland is revitalizing his career, from changing his arm angle to adding a flashy new pitch.
The Recaps:
From the Nuggets first game of the Post Malone Era, to a major win for the Rapids and embarrassing showings for the Rockies, here’s how Denver teams performed this week.
Denver’s newest team
Denver’s NWSL expansion team is moving at light speed as it prepares for its 2026 debut. They’ve announced plans for a training complex and temporary venue in Centennial, $100-200 million in south Denver. On Friday, the club announced their first president. Not to be outdone, fans have bought up over 10,000 ticket deposits. MTSR’s new womens soccer writer
has everything you need to know.
Coming up this week
On Friday, I called up Millet for her first interview with Denver media since being hired. We talked about how her time in Colorado during High School and College, along with the marketing and sports business experience she’ll bring into the job. Check for that story, plus previews of the Avs and Nugget playoff runs later this week.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Help MTSR grow by subscribing and telling a friend. Have a great week!