The captain of the Colorado Avalanche Gabriel Landeskog has skated for the first time since April 2023. The last time that anyone has seen Landeskog skate was April 6, 2023, right before the playoffs started.
It’s always a great day when our Captain hits the ice ❤️#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/fItZMlnJd4
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 11, 2024
The captain’s journey has been lengthy. What started as an injury in the Edmonton bubble developed into something greater. Landeskog underwent surgery at the end of the 2021-22 season, but it proved insufficient to repair the damage. Returning from a six-week injury, he triumphantly led his team to win the 2022 Stanley Cup in the playoffs.
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog will undergo a cartilage transplant in his right knee on May 10. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Brian Cole at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The 30-year-old forward is expected to miss the entire 2023-24 season. pic.twitter.com/bM466EpL3G
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 9, 2023
Landeskog worked slowly to get back on the ice through the entire 2022-23 season. He appeared to make progress during the season. Landeskog made the tough decision to shut it down in mid-April. In early May, Landeskog had cartilage tramsplant surgery in his knee.
Manson didn’t miss the net. He was aiming for me.
🎯 #COLvsSJS #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/yxE1JNykTH
— Conor McGahey (@ConorMcGahey) April 6, 2023
Ever since his surgery in the middle of 2023, Landeskog has been staying mostly with his family north of the border. He recently returned to the Avalanche on a full-time basis. Rumors circulated he had also moved his family back to the Denver area before the holidays.
Gabriel Landeskog posted this as of 20 minutes ago. It appears that everything went as anticipated for his surgery. #GoAvsGo #Avs @FullPressNHL pic.twitter.com/ifDUX4tUxI
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 11, 2023
Gabriel Landeskog is starting to show some his progress that he has made post-surgery. #Avs #GoAvsGo @FullPressNHL pic.twitter.com/2ce29ZXw8B
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) June 16, 2023
Landeskog’s presence and the team’s dominant play in the recent games showcase his leadership abilities. He makes his presence felt among the team in the locker room. The captain’s 738 career games played rank sixth in franchise history and his 571 points rank eighth. Landeskog’s captaincy appointment for the Avalanche set a record for the youngest team leader. The Swede took the team over teammate Milan Hejduk after only leading the Avalanche for one season.
Hopefully, Landeskog will return to the team for the playoffs this season. It could be tough after not seeing any game action since June 26, 2022. They might send him to the Colorado Eagles on a conditioning loan just to get some games under his belt when he is ready. The aim is for him to live comfortably after the surgery, regardless of his inability to play. All signs show a full recovery is underway.