Landeskog Joins the Avalanche At Their Morning Skate

The Colorado Avalanche got a pleasant surprise at their morning skate on Thursday as captain Gabriel Landeskog participated for the first time since his setback in November. Landeskog hasn’t played in more than two and a half years.

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After leading the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup victory in 2022, he underwent knee surgery. In May 2023, a cartilage transplant was required to address ongoing issues with his knee. He’s been fighting in rehab ever since and every few weeks or months, his name pops up with hope he might eventually return to the NHL.

Bednar Speaks to Media

Avalanche’s head coach, Jared Bednar, met with the media to discuss his captain taking part in the morning skate.

“I think he’s feeling good. Yeah. I think he’s feeling really comfortable with what he’s doing in his rehab process right now and starting to look better and better on the ice. So, still no real change in our approach and what’s going on. He’s just going to keep grinding forward until he gets to a point where he might be able to join the team on a regular basis.”

Bednar mentioned that there is still no timeline for Landeskog’s return. However, it’s encouraging to see him skating with the team again.

Could Landeskog Return This Season?

It’s possible, but it likely wouldn’t happen until the playoffs, given that he has just started skating with the team. This timeline would also allow the Avalanche to utilize the LTIR cap space to bolster its roster at the NHL Trade Deadline.

If Landeskog does make a return, it would be monumental for the Avalanche. It could also be one of the most memorable comebacks NHL fans have seen in the last 25 years.

After missing two and a half years, the sight of Landeskog lacing up his skates and rejoining his teammates for a run at another Stanley Cup would be nothing short of surreal.

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