1020 days ago, Gabriel Landeskog played his last professional hockey game.
After Landeskog was ruled out of the 2022-23 NHL season due to injury, it seemed like just another long-term absence, but a setback turned one season into three.
April 11th, 2025, marked Gabriel Landeskog’s first professional game of hockey since game six of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. It was a moment that seemed so far away.
Playing just shy of 15 minutes in his return game and showing signs of his former self, Landeskog looked confident and like he belonged back on the ice.
“It felt great,” Gabriel Landeskog said about his return to game action after nearly three full years. “It felt great being in the battle again. It’s really fun being back,” Landeskog added.
Landeskog felt the love, too, in the packed Blue FCU Arena. Constant chants all night and a loud ovation whenever he was on the ice, but nothing beats teammates and management, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Josh Manson, Ross Colton, Andrew Cogliano, Chris MacFarland and more of Landeskog’s Avalanche friends coming out to support him.
Regardless of his point total at the end of the night, Landeskog’s return marks a significant step in his lengthy recovery. If all of his conditioning games go well in the AHL, the Colorado Avalanche will be a scary team come playoff time.
Not everyone could do what he did, either. The processing of emotions to get to where he is now physically and mentally takes great dedication.
After the game, Landeskog shared in a post-game interview in the arena to the live crowd that his body and knee feel great.
“It’s pretty impressive,” Andrew Cogliano said after watching Landeskog return to the ice. “I could see him getting more comfortable,” Cogliano added.
Landeskog took a lot of physical contact throughout the game, and he stuck his nose into scrums. On the ice, the Avalanche captain looked like he was ready to battle with the NHL club, but for now, he will continue his conditioning stint in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles.
Landeskog and the Eagles will wrap up their series against the Henderson Silver Knights on Saturday, April 12th. Landeskog is expected to play his final game with the Eagles against the Ontario Reign on Wednesday, April 16th.
ITR 36: Coaching Carousel – Inside The Rink
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