For the first time in three years, Colorado Avalanche center Gabriel Landeskog returned to the ice.
Landeskog’s first game was with the Colorado Eagles as he is currently on a minor league conditioning assignment given to him by the Avalanche. This game is a huge step for Landeskog in returning to the National Hockey League (NHL).
His first game was on Apr. 11, where he participated in pregame drills and was serenaded with chants of Landy prior to puck drop. Fans cheered when he left the ice after his first shift as well as when he went to the penalty box as his face was shown on the video board. Landeskog’s contributions played a part in the Eagles 2-0 victory over the Henderson Silver Knights.
Landeskog’s last appearance on the ice was in Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, when he recorded an assist in a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. This game gave the Avalanche their third championship in franchise history. Since their cup win, Landeskog has been sidelined with a knee injury that has led to other surgeries.
If his assignment goes well with the Eagles, he could return to the team roster for Game 1 of the Avalanche’s first round playoff series. The Avalanche will begin the postseason on the road as the Central Division’s No. 3 seed.
After winning the Stanley Cup, Landeskog missed the 2022-2023 season after having surgery on his right knee before the season. He then got cartilage transplant surgery on May 10, 2023, leading to him being ruled out for the 2023-2024 campaign as well as the current campaign to this point.
Selected by the Avalanche with the second pick in the 2011 draft, Landeskog has recorded 571 points in 738 regular season games and 67 points in 69 playoff games.
