Gabriel Landeskog: I feel good and aim to put knee problems behind me ahead of the season with the Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog says he feels better physically than at any time since the “bubble” and expresses optimism ahead of training camp and the new season. After a long absence and surgical interventions, he aims to return to consistent form to help the team in the Stanley Cup race.

According to the NHL, the incident that caused his right knee injury occurred on August 30, 2020 in Edmonton when Cale Makar’s skate blade caught Landeskog’s knee during a game. After that operation and periods of pain, he was forced to miss three straight seasons (2022–2025), endured interventions and doubts about continuing his career, and finally returned in the 2025 playoffs after 1,032 days away. He became the fifth player to have played at least 700 games and return after an absence of more than 1,000 days, joining names like Jim Peplinski, Mario Lemieux, Uwe Krupp and Peter Forsberg.

After his return, Landeskog delivered significant results: four points (one goal, three assists) in five games in the comeback playoff. In the last regular season he scored 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 60 games, and then added 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 13 playoff games. Before the long absence, the 2021–22 season brought him 59 points in 51 regular-season games and 22 points in 20 playoff games, showing his potential when healthy.

The Avalanche enter the season with high expectations after setting a club record last year and winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the most successful regular-season team. However, the team has experienced bitter eliminations in recent playoffs; last year they were eliminated in the Western Conference final after a series in which the absence and form problems of several players, including a Cale Makar injury in the series against Vegas, affected the final result. Landeskog stresses the team is not looking for excuses but wants to improve and reach its best form at the decisive time.

He also says he values simple experiences more after the difficult times with his knee and wants to share some moments with his family, including attending an outdoor game this winter. According to the NHL, Landeskog said he takes nothing for granted and is determined to gradually build his form for a successful season.