Avalanche Talk Landeskog Return Timeline
The Colorado Avalanche made a few key deadline additions for their stretch run, but they're still hoping for one more huge boost to the lineup in the Stanley Cup playoffs, in captain Gabriel Landeskog. But they'll have to win a round first.
According to the most recent chatter from the Avs, they definitely won't be rushing him, but it's sounding like May—i.e. sometime into at minimum the second round of the playoffs— is at least a possibility.
Landeskog had cartilage transplant surgery on his right knee 10 months ago, and is sitting out his second consecutive regular season. But with a "12 to 16-month" timeline, if he's doing well in his recovery, the best case scenario would be May. GM Chris MacFarland explained the situation to The Athletic:
For a hockey player, there’s no info on this (type of surgery and recovery). It’s unique. And Gabe is doing great, but there’s still a lot of runway before we know, unfortunately, when he’s going to be good to go.
In terms of the recovery process, everything is good. The procedure is good, his checkups have been good. He’s feeling good. So there’s hope...
The last time the captain was seen on the ice with his teammates in an official capacity was in June of 2022, hoisting the Stanley Cup.
And while they can't say for sure, there's still hope that he could be doing it again in a few months time. Colorado made significant additions last week in their push to get back to the winner's circle, adding a strong second-line center in Casey Mittelstadt from the Buffalo Sabres, forward Brandon Duhaime to bolster the bottom-six, and defenseman Sean Walker to beef up the blueline.
The Avalanche currently stand third in the Central division, but with 85 points they are only four points back of the first place Dallas Stars and two in arrears of the Winnipeg Jets.
In 738 career games, Landeskog has recorded 248 goals and 323 assists for 571 points and a plus-minus rating of +77, while adding another 67 points in 69 playoff games.
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