Landeskog returns to the ice with Colorado Eagles stint
The Captain of the Colorado Avalanche stepped onto the ice for the first time in 1,020 days in the same Burgundy and blue, but with a new team logo on his chest. The Colorado Eagles.
Gabriel Landeskog’s journey to return to hockey was lengthy. After lifting up the Stanley Cup at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 season, he underwent knee surgery, leading to a two-year absence from the game. The surgery, a knee cartilage transplant in 2023 sidelined the swede and created a major setback for his return to the ice.
Then, on April 11, in Loveland, CO the lights shined brighter at Blue Arena.
Not because it was a pivotal American Hockey League matchup for the Colorado Eagles, but because the captain was on the ice.
The name on the back of the jersey was unmistakable. For Avalanche faithful who had followed his story, this game was more than the start of a conditioning stint. It was a revival.
Landeskog’s first game with the Eagles was not flashy. He had no goals or assists or thunderous open ice hits. But there didn’t need to be. What mattered was for the first time in nearly three years, No. 92 skated. For nearly 15 minutes, the 31-year-old led the forecheck and battled in corners, even picking up a penalty for hooking.
“When I put my head on the pillow tonight I’ll be proud,” Landeskog said after the game. “I know this is just a step on the way and I got a lot of work ahead of me, but it’s a very exciting start.”
The Eagles won the game 2-0 against the Henderson Silver Knights, but the box score felt secondary to the bigger picture.
Leadership isn’t taught, and it certainly isn’t easy to replace. Landeskog never truly left of course. He was around the team, appearing at practices, while the Avalanche pushed forward in his absence. His return wasn’t just a personal milestone but a moment of collective celebration. Avalanche teammates including Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon were present for the game.
The journey from surgery to game-ready wasn’t linear. There were setbacks, missed timelines and doubt from fans and media. Cartilage transplants aren’t routine, often career ending, but in his second game with the Eagles, the long wait seemed all worth it.
The Eagles, facing a 3-2 deficit, were on the power play 16 minutes into the third period. 30 seconds in, Landeskog scored his signature tip-in goal. Not only was it his game-tying goal, it was his first goal since game four of the 2022 postseason. The goal helped force overtime, where the Eagles won in a shootout. He also had an assist in the game, in his second game back from injury.
“I think the most fun part isn’t necessarily scoring a goal,” Landeskog said. “It’s just being a part of that atmosphere and being a part of a tight hockey game … getting to compete again … waiting to make a difference and feeling the crowd behind you. I mean, there’s nothing like it.”
While his stint with the Eagles is over, the Avalanche, already playoff bound, have no intention of rushing Landeskog back before he’s ready. But with each shift, each shot and each hit, the door creaks open little by little.
There’s cautious optimism in Denver. For as much as the Avs have succeeded without their captain, the idea of adding Landeskog to their line-up is tantalizing. With the depth Colorado added this season, his leadership could be the exact thing needed to make another playoff run.
If the past 1,020 days have proved anything, it’s that Landeskog doesn’t fold under pressure. He adapts. He fights. And now he skates again.