Avalanche Make Key Decision Regarding Gabriel Landeskog
It has been nearly three years since Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog last played an NHL game. Following a cartilage transplant in 2023, Landeskog’s career future has been uncertain, as the team has continued without his leadership and distinctive presence in front of the net. This week, Colorado secured a playoff spot for the eighth consecutive season, and the team is hopeful to have Landeskog back in the lineup for the first round if his recovery progresses well. On Wednesday, the Avalanche assigned the 32-year-old to the Colorado Eagles for an AHL conditioning stint.
“A lot of guys could’ve just walked away and called it a career,” said Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson to Fox Sports. “He could’ve collected his paycheck for the next few years and gone down as a legend in this organization. He still is, regardless of whether he returns or not, but he chose to push through. He doesn’t owe anyone anything. For him to go through this and try to come back to help the team is something special.”
Now in his 13th season as the Avalanche’s captain, Landeskog ranks third in active captaincy tenure, behind only Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Across six playoff appearances, he has averaged nearly a point per game with the team.
Charlie Coyle, who joined the Avalanche after Landeskog, described him as “a very well-rounded player.” “You hear about his leadership qualities… He leads by example, and he’s highly respected. You can see the kind of person he is—how he carries himself and the effort he puts in. There’s so much you can say about someone like him and what he contributes. Even when he’s not in the lineup, his leadership shines through.”
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