Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoff first round is likely set for next Saturday or Sunday.
Gabe Landeskog is set to end a 1,020-day absence from hockey as he returns to game action Friday night.
He’ll suit up for the Colorado Eagles in an AHL matchup against the Henderson Silver Knights at Blue Arena in Loveland. This marks his first game since June 26, 2022, when he captained the Colorado Avalanche to their first Stanley Cup win in 21 years.
Landeskog’s absence stems from persistent right knee issues that began with a skate cut during the 2019-20 season inside the NHL’s COVID bubble. Multiple procedures followed, including knee cartilage surgery in May 2023 — a procedure with no precedent for a successful NHL comeback, though NBA player Lonzo Ball returned from the same surgery this season.
He joins the Eagles on a conditioning stint from the Avalanche. Since he’s still on long-term injured reserve, he doesn’t affect Colorado’s roster or salary cap. Meanwhile, the Avalanche close out their regular season with games in Los Angeles and Anaheim over the weekend.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are expected to begin next Saturday or Sunday, with the Avalanche likely facing the Dallas Stars in a highly anticipated first-round series.
Nathan MacKinnon, out with a minor injury, is expected to attend Landeskog’s return in person — a game that has quickly become one of the hottest tickets in Eagles history. FloHockey will stream the event live and free across its social media platforms.
Leave a Reply