The Colorado Avalanche may soon welcome back their captain for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Top star hasn’t played in the NHL since the team’s championship win on June 26, 2022. Following that, he underwent knee surgery, which was unsuccessful and ultimately led to a cartilage transplant in his right knee.
After a long recovery process, he appeared in two AHL games as part of a rehab stint before the regular season ended. Now, head coach Jared Bednar says he could return for the first round of the playoffs.
“He’s getting close. Every day he seems a little faster, more confident, and more comfortable,” Bednar said on April 18. “He’ll be an option for us in this series.”
His return would be a major boost for Colorado as they face the Dallas Stars in Round 1. He’s currently in the fourth year of an eight-year, $56 million contract. In his last full season, he tallied 30 goals and 29 assists for 59 points in just 51 games.
Star Avalanche Defenseman Hopes Landeskog Can Play
Cale Makar, widely regarded as one of the top defensemen in the NHL, is optimistic about Gabriel Landeskog’s potential return for the playoffs.
Makar believes Landeskog’s presence would provide a significant lift for the Avalanche, both on the ice and emotionally. He also thinks it would inspire the team to rally behind their captain, who’s overcome a lot during his recovery.
“Anytime we have him back in the locker room, it’s awesome,” Makar said. “He’s been through such a long journey, so it’s great to see him practicing at full speed with us again. He’s obviously a huge piece of this team as our captain. It would be a big moment for him to return, and he’d make a major impact whenever that happens.”
Landeskog, the second overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, is a former All-Star and was instrumental in Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory.
Landeskog Feels Good Ahead of Potential Return
Gabriel Landeskog recently returned to game action with a two-game AHL rehab assignment—and he’s feeling optimistic about potentially suiting up for the NHL playoffs.
After those games, the Avalanche captain said he felt good physically and believes he’s on track to contribute in the postseason.
“Physically, I feel great,” Landeskog said. “It was my first game in a long time, so there’s still a lot to improve, but it was a lot of fun. I was definitely a bit nervous, and during warmups I was even trying to remember my old routine. But I also just tried to enjoy the moment.”
While returning to the NHL remains his goal, Landeskog is approaching the situation one step at a time after everything he’s endured during his recovery.
“I’ve always focused on staying present and living in the moment,” he said. “I don’t want to look too far ahead. But I feel good today, and hopefully I feel good tomorrow so I can keep progressing and practicing. We’ll see where it leads.”
The Avalanche open their first-round series against the Dallas Stars on April 19.