Gabriel Landeskog Returning to Colorado Avalanche for 2025 Playoffs
After nearly three years away from NHL action, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is set to make his long-awaited return just in time for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Landeskog, who last played during Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final — when the Avalanche clinched the title — has officially been recalled following the conclusion of his AHL conditioning stint.
The veteran forward missed the entire 2022–23 season due to knee surgery in October 2022. He then underwent cartilage transplant surgery in May 2023, which kept him sidelined through the entire 2023–24 campaign and the current regular season. Although Landeskog had expressed hope for a return last year, many doubted whether he would play again.
Now, with the playoffs set to begin, Landeskog will rejoin the Avalanche roster. While his specific role hasn’t been confirmed, his return is expected to provide a major emotional and competitive boost to a team looking to recapture the success of 2022. Since their championship win, Colorado has managed just one playoff series victory.
The Avalanche will face the Dallas Stars in the opening round of the playoffs, beginning this weekend. Since the series starts on the road, fans in Colorado will have to wait a bit longer to see their captain back on home ice.
