Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar stated on Wednesday morning that captain Gabriel Landeskog has experienced a setback in his recovery from a knee injury that has sidelined him for the past two years.
Landeskog underwent knee surgery following his leadership in the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory. His knee required a cartilage transplant in May 2023, and he has not played since Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
Bednar noted that this development shouldn’t be unexpected, as it’s part of the fluctuating recovery process, and emphasized that they remain optimistic Landeskog will return to play this season. He also mentioned that if Landeskog experiences discomfort during training or skating, they will allow him to rest and avoid further strain.
Landeskog has been skating intermittently since January but has not yet participated in any team practices.
Selected second overall by Colorado in the 2011 NHL Draft, Landeskog earned the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2012 and was named to the All-Star Game in 2019.
On the international stage, he helped Sweden secure gold at the 2013 and 2017 World Championships.
The Stockholm-born forward has played in 738 NHL games, recording 248 goals and 571 points, all with the Avalanche.
Currently, the Avalanche are ranked sixth in the Central Division with a 6-7-0 record.