Could Avalanche Captain Landeskog Be Nearing A Long-Awaited Return?

For more than two years, Colorado Avalanche star center Gabriel Landeskog has been sidelined by a catastrophic injury to his right knee. Understandably, there have been legitimate questions as to whether Landeskog would ever play another NHL game. But on Monday, the 32-year-old Swede participated in a full practice with the Avs, leading to  speculation he'd be returning to action in the near-future.

"He's looking good -- I thought he looked great in practice today," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told NHL.com after practice Monday. "Obviously, just like sort of the flow-and-go non-contact stuff. Certainly, (it’s) nice to have him out there.

"(Landeskog is) making strides. Obviously, this rehab is not linear. There's lots of peaks and valleys in it, and sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back, but he's still making progress and obviously feeling comfortable enough to come out and join the team with certain drills. So, hopefully that continues and continues to grow and [he’s] working to a point of a return."

Landeskog's last game came on June 26, 2022 in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Landeskog will travel with the Avalanche during their upcoming three-game road trip to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. But neither Landeskog nor the Avalanche would confirm he will resume his playing career anytime soon. 

Still, the emotional impact of Landeskog getting closer to a return has to provide a boost to Avalanche players who know full well how crucial Landeskog was to the organization for 11 NHL seasons. He may never play another game, but Landeskog's continuing impact on the Avs cannot be denied.

"It's really hard to say (when Landeskog wiil play again), but things are going great and it's certainly nice to have him back on the ice with our team," Bednar said. "Just the energy and sort of attitude that he brings to the ice, I think, helps everybody."