Would Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog have returned to the lineup had the team gone further into the playoffs? "I guess we'll never really know," he said.
The 31-year-old forward had knee cartilage replacement surgery on May 10, 2023 and was given a 12-18 month timeline for recovery and the ability to get back into action on the ice. He started skating in December and progressively improved since then, but was not ready to get back into the lineup at his year-mark.
"Laying the foundation and playing in an NHL playoff game is very different. I'm sure you guys all witnessed it. I mean, mentally I felt pretty close at times. I'm like, 'all right, well I can do this. I can go out there for a few shifts here and there,'" Landeskog said. "But I think the best decision was made for me to focus on what I was doing throughout the entire playoffs. As hard as it was and as much as I wanted to be out there, it was ultimately the best decision for my health. And I think long term for this organization as well."
The team said it was going to do what was best for its captain and it did. There is still no exact date or general timeframe for his full return, but he is optimistic he will be back in the near future. And it was confirmed that he is not retiring.
Related: Why Gabriel Landeskog should not return this season
"You asked about next season? Between mid September and start of April, I feel pretty good about it," the 6-foot-1 winger said with a laugh.
The last two months Landeskog said he has not faced any setbacks and has felt really good. It has not been a perfectly straight line though, there have been many challenges along the way.
"Obviously it's a bumpy road, and I knew that coming into it but I didn't realize how hard it was going to be especially when you do hit those bumps, when you do get the setback and all of a sudden you're off the ice for a month when you think you're actually going to be ramping it up ... .
"Now obviously within what I'm planning on doing there is a program and there are steps that need to be met sort of thing. But they're fluid. And if things go well, then you follow this plan and if they don't, then we'll tweak it and adjust as we go," Landeskog said.
The path Landeskog has had to take, that will hopefully lead him back to what he loves and excels at, has been long and winding. He said it has been mentally and emotionally trying not only for him but his family as well, and that he keeps pushing through this journey for them.
"I think that's honestly one of the main motivations for me is to ultimately be able to one day look back at all this craziness that I went through for four years and you know, you overcome it and you get through it and you come out on the other side and you're better because of it," Landeskog said. "You've got a boatload of experience and you know my wife's been through the ringer. She's dealing with me the last two years and I haven't been pleasant to deal with some days and it's a big challenge. She's been sort of that rock for me and, and I just can't wait to be back out there and then come give my family big hugs after the game. It will be pretty special.”
Landeskog is looking forward to rejoining his team sometime next season, even though there is no set date. Any additional updates that are received about his progress will be reported by The Hockey News.
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