Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog could be back on the ice early into the new season.
Landeskog has not played since hoisting the Stanley Cup in June 2022 due to a right knee injury.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar appeared optimistic about Landeskog’s return while speaking at the 2024-25 South Carolina Stingrays Fan Fest at North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday.
“He’s trying to make a return here sometime near the start of the season and if that goes well, it would be a really big boost for us,” Bednar said, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. “So, that’s something we’re all a little anxious about, but really excited about as well. He hasn’t played for us in two years.”
Landeskog recorded 22 points (11 goals and 11 assists) in 20 games during the 2022 playoffs to help the Avalanche capture their third Stanley Cup title in franchise history. He also had 59 points (30 goals and 29 assists) in 51 games during the regular season.
The 31-year-old Landeskog, who has served as the team’s captain since 2012, underwent cartilage replacement surgery last year and skated with the team during practices this past season before they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs against the Dallas Stars.
Avalanche superstar and reigning Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon said in June that the team misses Landeskog a ton.
“He’s our captain. The year we won, he was an animal out there,” MacKinnon said. “I know he’s rehabbing and he’s got great people around him giving him good information. Just hoping and praying that he comes back next season. We miss him on the ice, off the ice. It’s tough to win without a guy like that.”
Landeskog was drafted in the first round, second overall, by the Avalanche in 2011. The Stockholm native has registered 571 points (248 goals and 323 assists) in 738 career games over 11 seasons.
He was named captain on Sept. 4, 2012, becoming the youngest captain in NHL history at the time at 19 years and 286 days.