This story from Evan Liu originally appeared on our sister site, HockeyMountainHigh.com.
Gabriel Landeskog has been through just about everything in the last five years. From heartbreaking losses to winning a championship, to going down the highest drop of a roller coaster just to come out on the other side three years later.
A lot has happened in the five-year journey for the Colorado Avalanche captain. It just may be coming to a close – finally. Here’s a rundown of everything we know.
Where it all began
The date was September 2, 2020. Already coming down from a 3-1 series deficit, the Avalanche had enough on their minds. They dropped the first two games of the series, and were in the midst of another must-win Game Six.
With the lead 2-1 late in the second period, Landeskog was in the middle of doing what he does best: board battles. His team was already battling numerous injuries, with Michael Hutchinson in net for this game. Then, he would join the list.
Cale Makar lost his balance and wound up with his skate in the air. Just as he fell and Landeskog glided by, he just nicked his right knee. He limped off the ice and down the locker room, only to return for the third period. However, he only had one 16-second play and simply sat on the bench for moral support afterward.
While his team won the game 4-1 to force Game Seven, he would not dress for the matchup. He added on the lengthy injury report, which hurt the Avs on the ice in the depressing 5-4 overtime loss to end the season in the bubble. It was now current Avalanche player Joel Kiviranta who scored the hat-trick for the winner.
Initial handling/diagnosis
Initial reports suggested his injury was not serious, and how lucky the captain was. He still underwent a minor surgery to clean things up. But heading into the shortened and revamped 2021 season, Landeskog played in all 54 regular-season games without an issue.
He followed suit in the playoffs, making himself known in the first game against the St. Louis Blues. He dropped the gloves with Brayden Schenn in a big beatdown. In the same game, he recorded one goal and two assists, which started a four-game sweep over the Blues. However, he and the rest of the first line were shut down against the Vegas Golden Knights in six games in the following round.
Good Sasky boy Brayden Schenn fights Gabe Landeskog t.co/h5jXaVPKEO
— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) May 18, 2021
Fighting through it all for the Cup
Problems started to spout in the 2021-22 season. He’d start feeling the pain more and more, lingering issues stemming from the cut. As the season progressed, he took morning skates off to rest for games. Before you knew it, he went under the scope for the second time in March 2022.
“Landeskog is out. Going for knee surgery tomorrow. No timeline yet.” #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/BzU9I6mLyO
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 12, 2022
Luckily, it got him back on the ice in time for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It ended up being the most important run to date. In 20 playoff games post-surgery, he recorded 11 goals and assists en route to the Stanley Cup. He was so influential both on and off the ice for a group deserving of a highly incredible honor.
Little did we know how much the honor would be missed in what was Landeskog’s last NHL game since then.
It never gets old
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog lifts the Stanley Cup! pic.twitter.com/n2iBgvOzzy
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) June 27, 2022
The initial recovery
Before the start of the 2022-23 season, Landeskog underwent another right-knee surgery. He and the team could not push through his injury, and he had the surgery in October of 2022. It left him out for the entire season. Originally, this surgery was meant to leave him out for only 12 weeks. However, the stress and strain on the knee held him out for much longer than anticipated.
An update on Landeskog:
“Gabe Landeskog had surgery on his knee yesterday, and is expected to miss 12 weeks give or take.” pic.twitter.com/Nf4ybgvGr7
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 19, 2022
It meant Landeskog had one final option to exhaust: cartilage transplant surgery. Some well-known athletes have gone down this same path, but none of them have returned to game action.
He completed the surgery in May 2023 in Chicago. The recovery time is usually 12-18 months, hence putting Landeskog on pace to return sometime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2024, should everything go right.
But hidden behind it all, it did not go right.
Avalanche announce Gabriel Landeskog will undergo a cartilage transplant in his right knee. Expected to miss the entire 2023-24 season. Wishing him the best in recovery pic.twitter.com/VdRKuRp300
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 9, 2023
From eyeing a return, to being far from it
In the recently released “A Clean Sheet” documentary, Landeskog revealed a serious setback about halfway into the recovery time. In December 2023, he went through a patellar tendon tear, which involved up to an additional 6-12 months of recovery.
Landeskog had at least 1 setback in Dec 2023. He had a patellar tendon tear and looking up the recovery time, it could be several weeks to months. Seeing that a partial tear (which is what Landeskog said it was) takes 3-6 months. #Avs #GoAvsGo @MileHighHockey
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 16, 2025
Therefore, he ended up being nowhere close to a return, even if the Avalanche playoff run had gone deeper. Even despite being a consistent figure at practices and morning skates, it was simply a matter of going through the motions, showing the media he was present, and being a morale boost for those involved, even though his morale might’ve been at its lowest.
Great signs?
However, finally entering the 2024-25 season, there were some answers. In August of 2024, he told reporters on the golf course it was only a matter of “when, not if” he would return sometime this season. Compared to years past, there were no hard goals or deadlines to meet. He simply kept it open for whenever the time felt right, both physically and mentally.
The original 18-month recovery came and went at training camp the following month. Of course, his additional setback meant he had to wait a little bit longer to come back. But there was another thing coming for the captain.
The other “setback”
In early November 2024, there was a report from ESPN stating Landeskog couldn’t skate multiple days in a row due to his knee swelling up. This was quickly shot down by Jared Bednar, but not long after, there were more concerns.
Landeskog did, in fact, suffer another setback – albeit minor. Not much more is known about it, and the team was even hesitant to call it a setback in the first place. At this point, he hadn’t been seen skating publicly and was completing most of his work in private.
Here is Jared Bednar’s update on Gabe Landeskog from today after practice.
To me… it sounds like there was maybe a setback. pic.twitter.com/f9O8fF86GZ
— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) November 4, 2024
Occasionally, he would pop up and practice with the team, but they were far and few between. As the trade deadline came and went, General Manager Chris MacFarland finally shed some light on the situation. He stated Landy was doing good, continuing to take things week-by-week. Finally, the time came.
AHL achieved
Landeskog started joining more practices frequently, becoming more of a participant in March. As he continued forward, the long journey finally came to a big checkpoint: a return to game action. Even without a ton under his belt, he returned to the ice with the AHL affiliate Colorado Eagles.
On a conditioning stint, he joined in their practices and continued feeling well. It was time for the first true test in a long time, as he played in his first hockey game in over 1,020 days just last Friday.
Gabriel Landeskog’s first shift since June 26, 2022. I’m not crying, you are (I am too)@TheAHL | @ColoradoEagles | @Avalanche#AHL #NHL #EaglesCountry #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/CBMgXxID2H
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) April 12, 2025
Under the eagle-eyed front office, media members, and thousands of fans, his every move was reported on. Shift-to-shift analysis, what he did and did not do, the whole nine yards. He felt good enough in his return Friday to turn right back around and go at it again the next next. With a little more off his shoulders, he finally looked a little more like himself.
It showed when he was more involved in the battle. He was able to dig a puck out of the corner and be part of the assist on a goal. He followed suit with a tip-in front to score his first goal back in over three years. Everybody in the building was overcome with emotion.
LANDESKOG NOW WITH HIS FIRST GOAL!!!! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @MileHighSports pic.twitter.com/BHLO4uLpap
— Hockey Mountain High (@HockeyMtnHighCO) April 13, 2025
It fueled a monster comeback win for the Eagles on fan appreciation night. Landeskog finally enjoyed himself and felt some relief from the grueling process. Now approaching six years to the date from that fatal skate blow, what’s next?
The return of the Swedish king
The return seems all but imminent. Landeskog’s conditioning stint has come to an end with the Eagles, and he has recently joined the Avalanche squad for practices leading up to the playoff series against the Dallas Stars.
Of course, the big question was whether or not he would be an option. Seemingly enough, by the looks of it, he should be available to some extent by the time the series gets underway. When, where, and how the team plans to utilize him is yet to be determined.
“Number one, it’s exciting that he’s back & playing. I’m really happy for him. Number two, I think it’s exciting for us because it may give us another option here when we get to the weekend & start playing playoff games.”
Jared Bednar on Gabriel Landeskog pic.twitter.com/1zQO9RzSX4
— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) April 15, 2025
Even if it’s just in a cheerleading capacity to start, you bet he’ll be there. But it seems all but certain he will at least attempt to be back on the ice.
The big question from here is what he’ll look like and if it can be handled and dealt with. Remember, no player has ever come back from this injury successfully in the NHL. Besides, the NHL playoffs are an entirely different beast than a regular-season AHL game against a bottom-feeder club. Landeskog will certainly be tested by Dallas when he takes to the ice. He and the team have to be ready for it.
Just to get here is an incredible accomplishment in the first place. It has seemingly all paid off, finally. The doubters will be silenced once and for all when he steps onto the ice wearing the ‘C’ again.
Landeskog won’t be alone in silencing them out, with sure-to-be deafening cheers around to drown them out.
The five-year timeline of Gabriel Landeskog: What’s Next? Mile High Sports.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The five-year timeline of Gabriel Landeskog: What’s Next? )
Also on site :
- Who won Irish Grand National 2025? Full results, fallers and finishing order for 5.00 Fairyhouse race
- New York Jets make $50million NFL Draft decision as focus shifts following doomed Aaron Rodgers experiment
- America (and I) went on a pre-tariff splurge in March