DENVER — Gabriel Landeskog, captain of the Colorado Avalanche, reported that his right knee feels “really good” just two days after making his long-awaited return to the NHL. He experienced no issues during his first game back after nearly three seasons away.
However, he joked that his thumbs might not be feeling quite as good soon. Landeskog mentioned that he had over 130 unread text messages waiting for him from family, friends, and fellow players, all congratulating him on his comeback. He acknowledged that he might be slow to reply due to the ongoing playoffs, but stressed that the messages meant a great deal to him.
Now, the 32-year-old forward is ready to transition from the narrative of his return to focusing solely on his role as captain and left winger, aiming to help the Avalanche succeed. His team is currently trailing the Dallas Stars 2-1 in their first-round series, with Game 4 scheduled for Saturday night in Denver.
“I understand all the attention around it. I get it. It’s a unique situation and what-not and I can appreciate that for what it is,” Landeskog commented. “But I think as a competitor and as an athlete and as a Colorado Avalanche, that’s my focus. Excited to get ready for the game tomorrow and knowing that it’s kind of less about the first game back and more about us trying to win the hockey game.”
Landeskog`s return on Wednesday marked his first NHL appearance in 1,032 days. He was met with enthusiastic cheers from the home crowd during the 2-1 overtime loss. His lengthy absence was due to a chronic right knee injury that required multiple surgical procedures following his last game on June 26, 2022, when the Avalanche secured the Stanley Cup.
Colorado managed his ice time cautiously in his return, giving him 13 minutes and 16 seconds. Despite the limited minutes, he made an impact, leading the team with six hits.
Looking ahead to Saturday`s game, Landeskog is expected to see an increased role. This could potentially include a spot on the top power-play unit, as the Avalanche look to boost their special teams production. The team went 0 for 6 on the power play in Game 3 and has lost the last two games in overtime, despite starting both extra periods with a man advantage.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar praised Landeskog`s performance and potential impact. “He just has a skill set that we hope to utilize in a bunch of different ways in this series,” Bednar said. “That’s a credit to him, the work that he’s put in and just the poise he had with the puck. … I thought it was really impressive.”
