Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog makes memorable return to competitive hockey

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog made his return to competitive hockey on Friday night with the Colorado Eagles.

And it had been a process nearly three years in the making, or 1,020 days. The last time Landeskog played was with the Avs in the summer of 2022, when they won the Stanley Cup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Landeskog had multiple knees surgeries, including a cartilage replacement transplant in May of 2023. He’s been grinding until this moment, playing with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate in Loveland, Colorado in his first game back.

Here are all the sights and sounds pregame, including Landeskog’s superstar teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar making the drive up North to support him.

Gabriel Landeskog was met with thunderous applause when he took the ice for pregame skate, as well as when he was introduced as a starter. His first shift in an eventful first period lasted about 50 seconds.

He also took a penalty, dove on the ice and put an opposing player from the Henderson Silver Knights in a headlock. And that was just in the first 20 minutes.

Hello from Loveland, where Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is two hours away from playing his first hockey game in more than 1,000 days 🤯 pic.twitter.com/YvdS0yfcQT

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) April 11, 2025

Now this is a sight I never thought I’d see. A sharp looking Eagles jersey for Avalanches captain Gabriel Landeskog. pic.twitter.com/k3qJ7NDpN3

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) April 11, 2025

Chills!

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is back on the ice for a competitive hockey game. Here he is taking his pregame skate with the Colorado Eagles, his first action in 1,020 days 👏 pic.twitter.com/eIVUz18JGz

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) April 12, 2025

Avalanche superstars Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon are here to support their captain Gabriel Landeskog 😎 pic.twitter.com/7ASZokxDbZ

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) April 12, 2025

Here’s the introduction for Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, starting for the Colorado Eagles tonight. Blue Arena explodes when he’s announced first. pic.twitter.com/6OSr3OErDS

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) April 12, 2025

Here’s Gabriel Landeskog’s first shift in a competitive hockey game in nearly three years. Relatively uneventful, but moves well and receives a nice hand when he skates off. pic.twitter.com/V7qEbt3Bn7

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) April 12, 2025

Landeskog will meet with the media postgame, with questions certainly to come about how his surgically repaired knee felt.

The Avalanche start the playoffs on either April 19 or 20, against almost assuredly the Dallas Stars. The goal seems to be to have Gabriel Landeskog out there, but we’ll see how his body reacts in the coming days.

Regardless, this is a remarkable first step in an epic comeback. And hopefully it’s just getting started.