Gabe Landeskog shared an emotional moment he went through during Avs’ home opener

No one wants to play hockey more than Colorado Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog. He has yet to appear in a game since Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals in which he lifted Lord Stanley over his head in Tampa Bay.

He has been fighting a knee injury that has become too familiar to Avalanche fans, but there are signs that he could possibly make a return for the postseason. He has been skating up north with the Colorado Eagles while the Avs have been on the road, and has strung together a series of good practices.

In the latest episode of A Clean Sheet, the docuseries dedicating to telling the story of the captain’s return to the ice, he shared a moment of struggle during the team’s home opener this season back in October.

Gabe Landeskog was introduced during the Avalanche home opener, and then became so overwhelmed with emotions, he had to hide in an arena hallway.

The weight and emotional tolls of a serious injury. pic.twitter.com/hyh2a5QDhb

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 7, 2025

Hearing him say how uncomfortable he was in Ball Arena that night, a place where he is usually the most comfortable, was an eye-opening moment, and showed fans how much of a struggle this injury-riddled segment of his career has been.

Many Avs fans have been wondering about Landeskog’s road back to putting the “C” on his chest, especially given that there have been times and setbacks with the injury that have almost completely covered the light at the end of the tunnel. This week, that light has been the brightest it’s been in years, and this docuseries has helped show fans just how serious the injury was.

While nothing has been officially said regarding Landeskog’s status, he’s continuing to practice day-by-day in hopes of possibly making a return to the Avalanche lineup for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which are scheduled to begin on April 19.