Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog Makes Steps in Returning From Career-Threatening Injury

There is still no timetable of return for Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, but remarkable progress has been made.

Landeskog skated at practice with the team on Thursday amidst his two-and-a-half year recovery since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery following the Avalanche's 2022 Stanley Cup victory.

His knee required a cartilage transplant about one year later in May of 2023.

It is believed that Landeskog could still return to the NHL.

"I think he's feeling good. Yeah. I think he's feeling really comfortable with what he's doing in his rehab process right now and starting to look better and better on the ice," head coach Jared Bednar said. "So, still no real change in our approach and what's going on. He's just going to keep grinding forward until he gets to a point where he might be able to join the team on a regular basis."

Landeskog has intermittently skated since last January, but has yet to join a full practice session like he did on Thursday.

Selected second overall by Colorado in the 2011 NHL Draft, Landeskog earned the Calder Trophy in 2012 as the league's top rookie and was named an All-Star in 2019.

He has appeared in 738 NHL games, recording 248 goals and 571 points — all of which were with the Avalanche.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche carries the Stanley Cup following the series winning victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup...

Landeskog is among several Avalanche players sidelined this season due to a wave of injuries. Despite these setbacks, the team has recently regained momentum and currently holds third place in the Central Division with a 23-15-0 record.

"All the guys are pretty in tune with Landy's recovery process and the work he's been putting in to try to get back to our team on a regular basis," Bednar said. "I don't see him for a while on the ice, as a group of guys anyway. And then he's able to come out and join us and wheel around a little bit. I think it adds to the optimism of his return at some point, and it's good to have him out there, sort of boosting the spirits on a game day."

If Landeskog does in fact suit up for an NHL game this season, the Bill Masterson Trophy, an award commonly presented to a player who has come back from a life-threatening illness or injury, would likely be his.

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