Colorado Avalanche get major update on Gabriel Landeskog and if he'll play this season

PUBLICATION

Matt Garland
March 20, 2023 (3:41 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The defending champion Colorado Avalanche have been hit with the injury bug so bad this year, further illustrating just how tough capturing the whole grail of hockey the Stanley Cup truly is.

Star players such as Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin and Bowen Byram have all missed extensive time at some points throughout the season. So have Erik Johnson, Josh Manson, Darren Helm and Pavel Francouz.

The player that has missed the most time this season is captain Gabriel Landeskog. He is still recovering from surgery in the offseason and remains on long-term injured reserve. Landeskog had surgery in October to repair a lower body injury.

According to The Athletic's Peter Baugh, Landeskog underwent surgery on his right quad when it was sliced by a skate in the 2020 bubble.

He then underwent right knee surgery in March of 2022 ahead of the playoffs so that he could be at his best for the postseason. He played in a career-low 51 regular-season games last season but recovered in time to help Colorado capture the Stanley Cup.

At the beginning of this season in October, Landeskog had a minor operation to fix discomfort in his leg.

"He did have a procedure [this season], but it wasn't a major surgery," coach Jared Bednar said, "He had surgery on that quad, and then last year, obviously, when he missed the time in the spring before we went into the playoffs. But this year, he had discomfort coming back in training. It was bothering, hampering him."

Landeskog continues to put in the work to get back. He joined the team in mid-February in Denver, where he skated at the Avalanche's facilities. His progress has been slow, but he's definitely showing improvements in his skating.

The 30 year old was on the ice for Colorado's morning skate in anticipation for their game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Avalanche still don't know when their captain can return but the progress he's making is a sign things are going in the right direction. After practice Jared Bednar reported Landeskog would still need to skate on his own for awhile before returning to full practice, but it finally appears their is light at the end of the tunnel.

POLL
Will the Colorado Avalanche have their captain Gabriel Landeskog in the lineup before the season ends?
Yes, will get in a couple before playoffs	29	28.2 %
No, ready for Game 1 of the first round	39	37.9 %
No, returns some point in the playoffs	25	24.3 %
Doesn't return till next season	10	9.7 %
List of polls