After missing three seasons because of a devastating knee injury, Gabriel Landeskog returned to the NHL with a renewed appreciation for every part of the game—and insists he still has more hockey left to play.
For three years, Gabriel Landeskog was forced to live without the life he had spent more than a decade building.
Three years without NHL games. Three years without the daily grind of practices, road trips and late nights. Three years away from the locker room, the competition and the feeling of scoring a goal.
At the time, there was little reason to view it as anything other than a devastating interruption to his career.
Looking back now, Landeskog sees it differently.
As difficult as those years were while recovering from knee surgery, the Colorado Avalanche captain believes the experience gave him something he might never have gained otherwise: perspective.
“It’s a valuable experience to go through before you get to retirement,” Landeskog told reporters at the annual NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. “For me, it was eye-opening and important for me to realize that.”
Landeskog returned to the Avalanche for their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars in 2025, marking his first NHL action in three years. But this past season represented his first full regular season since 2021-22, allowing him to fully rediscover the daily rhythm of an NHL career he had spent so long without.
The significance of simply being back was never lost on him.
Early in his return, Landeskog had three consecutive goals wiped away because of offsides or goaltender interference. His teammates noticed something unusual: He wasn't frustrated by it.
Why would he be?
Landeskog had already spent three years wondering if moments like that would ever matter to him again.
“I’ve already won, playing with the house’s money,” Landeskog said.
That perspective has changed the way he views the game. Scoring still matters. Winning still matters. But after spending three years away from the sport, Landeskog has found a deeper appreciation for everything that comes with being an NHL player—not just the highlights.
The monotonous days. The exhausting practices. The late nights. Even the losses and downturns that players might otherwise dread.
“I’m enjoying everything that comes along with the great game,” Landeskog said.
His wife once joked that when his playing career was finally over, he would spend a couple of years doing nothing. After getting an unexpected three-year preview of retirement, Landeskog knows that won't be the case.
For now, he still has plenty left to appreciate—and plenty left to play for.
“Understanding and realizing how blessed you are to be doing what you want,” Landeskog said. “I’m not done yet.”
