Opinion: Landeskog’s return from injury is the greatest comeback in Colorado sports history

He said he’d let someone else say it so I’ll be that someone! This is the greatest comeback in CO sports history.

The return of Colorado Avalanche captain felt all too real last night as he logged his first goal since returning to the ice. It had been 1,041 days since Gabe Landeskog logged a goal in the NHL, but last night was the night. The crowd erupted in a way the Ball Arena never has, and that’s saying something. To put things in perspective, the barn in downtown Denver wasn’t that loud in the Stanley Cup Final against Tampa.

Last night’s goal is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Gabe’s story, but it certainly tipped this story into the realm of legends, and there’s no going back. What happened last night and what has happened to end this 2024-25 season is movie-like — a story meant for the silver screen. Where does this comeback rank among the others that have occurred in this great sports state? I say it takes the cake.

I can’t even think of a comeback that comes close to comparing to what we’ve seen from Gabe Landeskog. Terrell Davis, unfortunately, never came back from his knee injury to contribute like he did as a 2,000-yard rusher for the Denver Broncos. That may represent the only opportunity anyone else has had to top this comeback. If I’m wrong, please enlighten me!

This story is similar to Rudy, but if Rudy were a true story (go look it up, and sorry in advance), it would be akin to the tale of a Super Bowl champion who returned from an injury that no one had ever recovered from before. Not just a five-foot-nothing, a hundred and none. In this story, the crowd did chant, “LANDY, LANDY, LANDY!”

What was experienced at Ball Arena last night can only be described as monumental and glorious. We are all fortunate to be tuned into this Avalanche team and its captain. Crazy part? This story only gets better if Colorado can replicate last night’s attention to defensive detail and offensive generation.