April 11, 2025 — By Rod Mackey
After a long 1,020 days, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog made his long-awaited return to the ice on Friday night. Landeskog took the ice for the Colorado Eagles, the Avs’ minor league affiliate, in a game against the Henderson Silver Knights in Loveland.
The announcement of Landeskog’s return was met with a raucous cheer from a full crowd at the Blue Federal Credit Union Arena, with fans excited to see their captain back in action. Landeskog had been sidelined with a significant knee injury since the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup nearly three years ago.
Though Landeskog didn’t score during the game, he made his presence felt. Early in the first period, on his third shift, he was called for a penalty after a high check. Later, in the first, he got involved in a skirmish, taking a shot at a Silver Knights player after a fight broke out on the ice. In the second period, Landeskog had a close chance at scoring but was denied by the Henderson goalie. Ultimately, the Eagles secured a 2-0 win.
Reflecting on his return, Landeskog expressed that it was “fun” to be back and that he was excited to review his game film for the first time in a long while. He emphasized that the game was an important first step in his process, adding that although he didn’t score, he felt good about his performance.
Looking ahead, Landeskog is taking things day by day, focusing on building momentum. He remains hopeful for his return to the Colorado Avalanche in the near future, especially with the Avalanche’s playoff series against the Dallas Stars starting soon. Landeskog mentioned he’s uncertain about his role in the playoffs but didn’t rule out the possibility of joining his team for the postseason, considering how well he felt after Friday’s game.
The Colorado Eagles face the Henderson Silver Knights again on Saturday, April 12, and Landeskog may see more ice time. Fans are eager to see if this is the beginning of his full return to form after a lengthy absence.
Stay tuned as Landeskog continues his journey back to the NHL after nearly three years on the sidelines.
