The Colorado Avalanche made a huge announcement involving team captain Gabriel Landeskog on Wednesday morning.
Landeskog is headed to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on a conditioning assignment, setting the stage for a potential return to the NHL playoffs.
Landeskog, 32, hasn’t played a professional game since hoisting the Stanley Cup on June 26, 2022.
Following multiple setbacks stemming from a knee injury—including a cartilage transplant surgery in May 2023—the long road back now includes a stint in Loveland.
The Eagles have five regular-season games left. Landeskog will be eligible to participate in up to three of them. He was expected to practice with the team Wednesday before next steps are decided.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar had hinted earlier this week that the move was possible.
“He’s ramped up his days on the ice, the workload in those days,” Bednar said Monday. “Then we just wait for the next day and re-evaluate and see how he responds.”
Meanwhile, during an appearance on "NHL on TNT" before an April 2 game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Avs' Erik Johnson was asked about Landeskog’s status and let slip his potential return.
“It’s a matter of ‘when, not if’ anymore,” Johnson said. “We’re excited for him to get back on the ice. I know he’s put in a lot of work, time, money, resources, everything. We’re pulling for him.”
Landeskog last played during the 2022 Stanley Cup run, logging 11 goals and 22 points in 20 playoff games.
He had knee surgery shortly before that postseason and hasn’t appeared in a game since. The nature of his injury—a cartilage transplant—was considered career-threatening, but Landeskog has slowly increased his involvement in practices this season.
Landeskog is in the fourth season of an eight-year, $56 million contract. He was named Avalanche captain in 2012 at just 19 years old—the youngest in NHL history at the time.
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