Bednar: Landeskog trying to return 'near the start of the season'
The Colorado Avalanche could have captain Gabriel Landeskog back within their ranks sooner rather than later.
"He's trying to make a return here sometime near the start of the season, and if that goes well, it would be a really big boost for us," head coach Jared Bednar said Saturday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "So, that's something we're all a little anxious about, but really excited about as well."
Landeskog has been sidelined by knee injuries since helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.
The 31-year-old underwent knee surgery in March 2022 before returning for the playoffs. He went under the knife again almost four months after hoisting Lord Stanley's Mug and was initially given a 12-week timeline.
Landeskog then received a knee cartilage transplant in May 2023. There was hope he could play in the 2024 playoffs, but it never came to fruition after Colorado was eliminated in the second round. He skated with the Avalanche in January for the first time since undergoing surgery.
The Swede expressed hope he could play in 2024-25 this past May but noted there was "no point" in setting a target return date.
Bednar said Saturday that Landeskog's return hinges solely on whether the veteran "feels well enough" to ramp up his recovery.
"It's been a long time now, so there's no rush," the bench boss said. "It's just all with what he's feeling comfortable with. … Just what he's been able to do both in the gym with his training off the ice and what he's been able to do on the ice, we're certainly optimistic that he'll be able to come back."
Despite the missed time, Landeskog still ranks sixth in Avs history in games played (738), eighth in goals (248), and ninth in points (571). He also sits eighth with 67 playoff points in 69 outings.
Colorado selected Landeskog second overall in 2011. He's under contract for five more seasons with a cap hit of $7 million.
The Avalanche currently have around $2 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia.