As the NHL regular season reaches its final stretch, Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche gear up for a crucial Stanley Cup Playoffs run. With just three games left in their schedule, the Avalanche announced a key roster move, implying the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog is closer than ever.
MacKinnon and the Avs are 7-2-1 over their last ten outings. The Avalanche are almost guaranteed to clinch the third place in the Central Division, as they should win their three last games in regulation, and hope the Dallas Stars lose the four remaining outings in regulation, as well, in order to surpass them. It seems highly unlikely. However, Colorado isn’t too worried about their seeding.
They are more concerned about retrieving their veteran captain Landeskog, who played his last NHL game in 2022. Most precisely on June 26, when the Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to hoist their third Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Landeskog has been battling with a knee injury since. In May 2023, Landeskog underwent knee cartilage replacement surgery, a procedure mostly considered to be career-ending. However, against all odds, Landeskog has battled hard and could very well be gearing up to return to the lineup for the playoffs.
Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche gets emotional following victory following the series winning victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida.
“Gabriel Landeskog has been loaned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on a conditioning assignment,” the Avalanche announced on their social media accounts. The move shines the light on his recovery and the prospect of a long-awaited return to the ice.
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Finding a rhythm
After being assigned to the Eagles in the AHL, Landeskog can appear in up to three of the team’s five remaining games. That’s the maximum allowed by the league for players on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) during a conditioning stint.
Based on his performance, Jared Bednar and the NHL coaching staff will evaluate whether Landeskog is ready to return to the first team for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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Needless to say, the captain’s return would be a massive morale boost for MacKinnon and the rest of the squad in Denver as they chase a second championship with their current core.
