Gabriel Landeskog 'An Option' for Avalanche in NHL Playoffs vs. Stars, HC Bednar Says

After missing the past three seasons due to chronic knee issues, veteran Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog could potentially make his NHL return during the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

According to B/R Open Ice, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Friday that Landeskog "is an option" for the Avs during their upcoming first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars.

After skating with the team and getting back into playing condition, Landeskog was temporarily sent to the Avs' AHL affiliate in the Colorado Eagles.

Playing his first professional games in three years, Landeskog recorded one goal and one assist in two games with the Eagles last week.

The 32-year-old from Sweden was originally the No. 2 overall pick by Colorado in the 2011 NHL draft.

Just one year after getting drafted, the Avs named Landeskog their captain, making him the youngest captain in NHL history at the time at just 19 years of age.

Over his 11 NHL seasons, Landeskog appeared in 738 regular-season games, recording 248 goals and 323 assists for 571 points. He also registered 27 goals and 40 assists for 67 points in 69 playoff games.

A winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year and a one-time All-Star, Landeskog also helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Landeskog finished with 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 20 postseason games during that Cup run, and he has not appeared in an NHL game since then.

Although it is difficult to predict how much of an impact Landeskog will have if activated given how much time he has missed, he brings a ton of experience, leadership and toughness to the table.

Even if he plays a bottom-six role, he could bring a great deal of value to Colorado's lineup based on his past playoff excellence.

Since Landeskog last played, the Avs have been unable to make another deep playoff run despite their talent.

In 2022-23, they were eliminated in the first round, and they were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs last season.

The 102-point Avalanche have a tough first-round matchup ahead against the 106-point Stars, who acquired former Avs superstar forward Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline.

However, the Stars will be without one of their best players to begin the postseason, as Dallas head coach Pete DeBoer said Friday that leading goal scorer Jason Robertson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

That coupled with the potential return of Landeskog gives Colorado a great deal of momentum entering Saturday's Game 1.