Gabriel Landeskog has been sidelined from the Colorado Avalanche for nearly three full seasons. The team captain battled a severe knee injury during their 2022 Stanley Cup championship run, which ultimately required him to undergo cartilage transplant surgery in May 2023. On Monday, Landeskog took a step forward by joining practice in non-contact drills. Head coach Jared Bednar told reporters that Landeskog will be traveling with the team, as will Josh Manson, who remains out on a week-to-week basis with an upper-body injury. Although neither player is ready to return to the lineup, Bednar stressed the value of keeping them active in team activities.
“This is where I’m at: 32 years old, wanting badly to play hockey and to keep going, to see how far I can push this,” Landeskog told Peter Baugh of The Athletic this month. “That’s really what it’s about—how far can I take it? How good can I get it? I realize I probably won’t ever skate completely pain-free again, but if I can manage it, I’ll make that call and see where it leads.”
Landeskog, who won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2012 and became the youngest captain in league history at 19, has tallied 248 goals and 571 points in his career, helping lead Colorado to six playoff appearances. Although there’s still no clear timeline for his comeback, Landeskog is determined to return, regardless of how long it takes.
“I’ve made up my mind to see this through,” he said. “I started this journey, and I’m going to finish it.”
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