Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog could finally be in line to play his first professional hockey in three years. The team announced they’ve loaned him to AHL Colorado on an LTIR conditioning loan that will likely last the remainder of the regular season.
The playoff-bound Eagles have five games remaining on their regular-season schedule. Landeskog can play in three of them as part of his conditioning assignment before Colorado must recall him to the NHL roster and decide whether to activate him from long-term injured reserve. They have a back-to-back against the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday and Saturday, either of which could mark Landeskog’s return to game action for the first time since hoisting the Stanley Cup on June 26, 2022. He’ll practice with the Eagles today before the organization decides whether he’ll actually suit up, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.
If he can get through a couple of games without incident, Landeskog could make his return to the NHL when they kick off their first-round playoff series, either against the Jets or Stars, in a week and a half. The 32-year-old has ramped up his participation in practice over the last couple of months since undergoing a cartilage transplant in his right knee in May 2023, the latest of multiple surgeries to address lingering side effects from a skate cut to his leg in the 2020 bubble.
Head coach Jared Bednar hinted at the possibility of a conditioning stint in the AHL for Landeskog, who’s never seen a minor-league assignment since being selected second overall by the Avs in the 2011 draft, on Monday. If he suits up for the Eagles, it will mark his first league action for a non-Avalanche team since he appeared for Sweden’s Djurgårdens IF in the 2012 lockout.
Expectations will still be reserved for the nine-time 20-goal scorer. Regardless of the on-ice impact he has, managing to continue his NHL career at all after missing so much time is one of the more remarkable accomplishments in recent league history. Announced as the Avs’ Masterton Trophy nominee today for understandable reasons, he’s likely a shoo-in for the honor if he’s able to lace up the skates in the postseason.
In a best-case scenario, Landeskog will add even more forward depth to a Colorado roster retooled on the fly by general manager Chris MacFarland this season. Out is star winger Mikko Rantanen, but their depth lines have improved dramatically, with Charlie Coyle, Jack Drury, Martin Nečas, and Brock Nelson now in the mix.
Image courtesy of Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports.