The moment for Gabriel Landeskog’s official return, nor was it a successful outing for the Colorado Avalanche. Although he had been activated, the team captain was ultimately marked inactive for Game 2 of their playoff series against the Dallas Stars. The uncertainty lingered right up until puck drop, as the question of whether he’d play remained unanswered.
It was later reported that Landeskog might miss the first two games of the series — and that turned out to be true. However, things began to look more promising on Wednesday morning.
During his weekly appearance on 92.5 FM Altitude, head coach Jared Bednar shared some optimism, saying there’s “a good chance Gabe Landeskog plays tonight.”
I’ll admit it — hearing there’s a “good chance” Landeskog plays sounds a lot more encouraging than the silence we’d been getting from Bednar before. It seems like the coach may have been trying to gain a strategic edge for Game 2 against Dallas, but in the end, the Avalanche fell in heartbreaking overtime fashion.
Assuming Landeskog returns, I’m curious how Bednar will adjust the lines. Could he take the ice right away for a symbolic first shift? That would be a cool moment, but knowing how tightly the Avalanche manage things with the media, it feels unlikely. Still, I’d love to see the team roll out a special video tribute as soon as he hits the ice — maybe something featuring players from around the league welcoming him back.
It’s been over 1,000 days since Landeskog last suited up in an NHL game, but it’s hard not to hope he comes back looking great. He recently played a couple of games with the Colorado Eagles during his rehab. While the pace is slower in the AHL, it was refreshing to see him throwing hits, taking shots, and even scoring.
That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if his ice time is limited — it’s a big playoff game, and expecting him to carry too much right away isn’t realistic. His return also means someone else has to sit, which isn’t a small decision. Not every Avalanche player has been perfect this postseason, but what if Landeskog isn’t quite in rhythm yet?
The upside? The series is tied and it’s not an elimination game — the timing is as good as it gets. It’s a gamble, sure, but one that feels worth taking.