It has been 981 days since Gabriel Landeskog last played for the Colorado Avalanche.
In one of the most unusual injury cases in hockey, the Avalanche captain has been tirelessly working to return to the ice for his team. However, nearly three years have passed since he last played in an Avalanche jersey, celebrating the Stanley Cup victory.
Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland provided an update on Landeskog’s condition on Monday, and it was not the news fans had hoped for.
“I don’t for-see in the next day or two, or week or two here,” MacFarland said. “I think you guys can figure out where this is kind of going.”
This is a discouraging outlook from MacFarland, indicating that Landeskog’s return is further off than previously expected—a reality all too familiar for Avalanche fans.
It’s a tough situation for the Colorado captain, who has been a crucial part of the franchise since his debut in 2011. Every time there’s a glimmer of hope for his return, more disappointing news follows regarding his recovery.
Last May, Landeskog announced that he was not retiring after the Avalanche suffered a second-consecutive postseason loss without their captain out on the ice.
A few months later in August, Landeskog gave a promising update on his knee, and said that “It’s not so much if, it’s when” regarding his return.
Neither of the comments made by Landeskog in the offseason have particularly aged well for the 32-year-old.
While this isn’t the best news for the team, MacFarland did make sure to mention the work that Landeskog has been putting in to possibly make his way back and that there is “a chance” he could play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (if the Avalanche hold onto a Wild Card spot).
At this point in time, words don’t mean a whole lot in this ongoing dilemma. The only thing that will matter and actually mean something to fans in term’s of Landeskog’s return is seeing him out on the ice in an Avalanche sweater. For now, it seems that if that were to ever happen again, it would be in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs while the Avs chase a fourth Stanley Cup.
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