Gabriel Landeskog is taking the next step forward in his recovery from a knee injury that has kept him out of the lineup for nearly three years.
The Avalanche captain joined the team on Monday for their practice and is set to join them on a three game road trip to visit the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.
Landeskog, 32, last played on June 26th, 2022, hoisting the Stanley Cup above his head when Colorado beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. In May of that year, he underwent cartilage transplant surgery in his right knee, kicking off a long recovery process that Avalanche head coach Jared Bedman said is non-linear.
“He’s looking good; I thought he looked great in practice today,” he said via NHL.com. “Obviously, just like sort of the flow-and-go noncontact stuff. Certainly, [it’s] nice to have him out there.
“He’s making strides. Obviously, this rehab is not linear. There’s lots of peaks and valleys in it, and sometimes it’s two steps forward and one step back, but he’s still making progress and obviously feeling comfortable enough to come out and join the team with certain drills. So, hopefully that continues and continues to grow and [he’s] working to a point of a return.”
Despite joking about playing against Toronto, there’s no timetable for his return to the Avalanche lineup.
He was, however, a key part of their Stanley Cup run, scoring 30 goals and 59 points in 51 regular season games, adding another 11 goals and 22 points in 20 playoff games. He became the first European-born captain to guide their team to Lord Stanley’s Mug.
Drafted by the Avs second overall in the 2011 draft, one pick behind the Oilers selection of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Landeskog has appeared in 738 games for the Avalanche, scoring 248 goals and 571 points.

Other news…

  • The injury bug has plagued the Buffalo Sabres, with JJ Peterka, Josh Norris and Jiri Kulich all missing Monday night’s game against the Boston Bruins. Peterka, dealing with a lower-body injury, is slated to return Thursday night against the Utah Hockey Club, while Norris (undisclosed) is hopeful to return later this week. Kulich, meanwhile, is in concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head in Saturday’s win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
  • One of the Vancouver Canucks’ newest acquisitions is in concussion protocol, as Filip Chytil was left wobbled after taking a late hit from Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson Saturday night. The hit itself was late, but it also occured late in a game which the Canucks won 5-2. Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood was none-too-impressed with it, calling out Dickinson and saying he would have to answer the bell next season. “It’s back-to-back games that guys are taking liberties on our guys. [Dickinson] is going to have to answer the bell next year because I know we don’t play them again, but that was a dirty hit. Unneccesary. 6-2. And then he doesn’t have the…whatever… to step on the ice afterwards? [Derek Forbort] asked him. It is what it is. We’ll get him next year.”
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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