In an unexpected move to surprise fans, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog skated on back-to-back days for the first time in his recovery journey on Tuesday. This is a new development, as the media hasn’t seen this level of progress from him in the past three years.
Since the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup win in the summer of 2022, Landeskog hasn’t played in a game, having undergone knee cartilage replacement surgery in 2023 and battling to return to action ever since.
After Colorado’s practice at Family Sports Center, head coach Jared Bednar downplayed the significance of Landeskog skating two days in a row, though he acknowledged the progress being made.
As the playoffs approach around April 19 or 20, it remains uncertain whether Landeskog will be able to join his team on the ice. Recently, he practiced with the top power-play unit and even celebrated a goal with a fist pump, adding to the excitement surrounding his recovery.
Landeskog mentioned last month that many players in his situation might have retired by now, but the Colorado captain is still eager to return and help his team. His recovery is being documented in a new series, with a perfect storyline being his return to the playoffs.
The Avalanche have seven regular season games left, wrapping up on April 13 against the Ducks in Anaheim. After that, they’ll have a brief break before the postseason begins.
Currently, Colorado is eight points behind the Dallas Stars for second place in the Central Division and comfortably ahead of the Minnesota Wild in the wild-card race.
While the possibility of Landeskog returning for the postseason is being eagerly discussed, it’s still unclear whether that will happen. However, skating on back-to-back days is a positive sign of progress.
