The Colorado Avalanche have been without captain Gabriel Landeskog on the ice since their 2022 Stanley Cup win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, there's now a promising development as Landeskog has returned to the ice skating, marking his first on-ice appearance since undergoing knee surgery last spring.
In May, Landeskog had a knee cartilage transplant, a challenging procedure with uncertain recovery prospects. Despite being ruled out for the entire current regular season, the Avalanche are cautiously optimistic about his potential return for the playoffs. No NHL player has returned to play after this surgery, but Landeskog, known for his resilience, might attempt to be the first.
During his absence, Landeskog missed the entire 2022-23 season and has been primarily undergoing rehabilitation in Toronto. Recently, he has been more involved with the team, even attending events like Erik Johnson's return with the Sabres. The current on-ice session is just the initial step in his recovery journey.
The Avalanche, currently one point behind in the Western Conference and Central Division with 57 points, acknowledge the significance of Landeskog's potential return. His contributions were pivotal during their 2022 Cup run, where he scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists, ranking fourth in points for the team in the playoffs. Beyond his on-ice skills, it's his leadership that has been missed the most. While the team is in a strong position, the hope is that Landeskog's return could further enhance their chances for another championship. This positive development is just the beginning, with optimism for more progress in the coming months.
