Avalanche captain's return just got even bigger with shocking roster decision
Photo credit: RJ Sangosti / The Denver Post
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has officially been selected to Sweden's preliminary roster for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation announced today.
The event is scheduled to take place in Milan and Cortina, Italy from February 6 to 22, 2026.
Landeskog's return just got even bigger with shocking roster decision.
Landeskog , 32, made his long-awaited return to NHL action in Game 3 of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 23, following 1,032-day absence. He had missed the enitre 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, as well as the 2024-25 regular season, while recovering from knee surgery.
The 6-foot-1, 215lbs forward appeared in five playoff games for Colorado during the 2025 Stanley Cup run, contributing four points (1 goal, 3 assists).
His time away from the game was the fourth-longest in NHL history among players with at least 700 games played, and only the third instance of a team captain going over 1,000 days without suiting up. Landeskog's comeback earned him the runner-up spot for the 2024-25 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which honours the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
"The Stockholm, Sweden, native has represented his country at the 2014 Olympics, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, four IIHF World Championships (2012, 2013, 2017, 2019), the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2009 IIHF Under-18 World Championship. He won a gold medal at the 2013 and 2017 IIHF World Championship and helped his country to the silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Despite missing the last three seasons, Landeskog's 571 career points rank eighth among Swedish-born players since he entered the NHL in 2011-12." -NHL.com
Landeskog's selection marks the second time an Avalanche player has been named to Team Sweden on multiple occasions, joining Peter Forsberg in that distinction.
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JUIN 16 | 22 ANSWERS Avalanche captain's return just got even bigger with shocking roster decision Do you think Landeskog will be named captain of the 2026 Swedish Olympic Team? | ||
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