Colorado Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog Speaks On His Knee Following Return And It's Surprising
Photo credit: Reuters
After missing nearly three years due to a knee injury, Colorado Avalanche's captain Gabriel Landeskog made his return for game 3 and has spoken out on how his knee is feeling after his return.
Just two days after his first game back in the NHL, Gabriel Landeskog finally spoke out on his knee injury and stated that it is feeling "really good" right now.
He may have a thumb problem later though, as he stated that he's responded to more than 130 unread text messages from friends and family following his comeback to the NHL.
Now, Gabriel Landeskog is looking to put everything behind him and do his job, lead his team to a first-round victory and push for another Stanley Cup.
Landeskog speaks out on his return
"I understand all the attention around it. I get it. It's a unique situation and what-not, and I can appreciate that for what it is," the 32-year-old Landeskog said. "But I think as a competitor and as an athlete and as a Colorado Avalanche, that's my focus. Excited to get ready for the game tomorrow and knowing that it's kind of less about the first game back and more about us trying to win the hockey game."
Ball Arena did not take his return lightly, they erupted when he made his first return after missing 1,032 days, but it got spoiled as the Avalanche ended up losing 2-1 to the Stars in overtime.
He was monitored by the Avs coaching staff, only playing 13 minutes and 16 seconds, but did make an impact throwing six hits leading his team, and had a big one on former teammate Mikko Rantanen at center ice.
The Colorado Avalanche are expected to promote Landeskog to the top power play unit for game 4 against the Stars on Saturday night.
"He just has a skill set that we hope to utilize in a bunch of different ways in this series," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "That's a credit to him, the work that he's put in and just the poise he had with the puck. ... I thought it was really impressive."
Jared Bednar would not put a percentage on how close he is to returning back to his old form:
"I don't think it's fair," Bednar said. "The only guy that's missed any kind of time like that, that I know of, that's come back and was equally as good or better than when he left, was Mario [Lemieux].
"I don't think it's fair to say the expectation has got to be to where [Landeskog] was. I think he's going to get there eventually, but it's going to take some time."
"I don't think it's fair to say the expectation has got to be to where [Landeskog] was. I think he's going to get there eventually, but it's going to take some time."
Landeskog lived the entire moment, but unfortunately they lost in overtime, when he would've rather win the game instead.
"The beauty of being in a playoff series like this is you've got to jump right in," Landeskog said. "There's no time to feel around and see how things are going. You've got to adapt on the fly and improve on the fly. Right now, for me, every game is super useful. Every shift is super important.
"I'll continue to improve on it and continue working. Excited to get another crack at it."
"I'll continue to improve on it and continue working. Excited to get another crack at it."
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 25 | 19 ANSWERS Colorado Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog Speaks On His Knee Following Return And It's Surprising Do you think Gabriel Landeskog is playing 100% healthy for the Colorado Avalanche right now? | ||
| Yes | 11 | 57.9 % |
| No | 8 | 42.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
