Colorado Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog made an exciting return to the ice on Friday night, playing his first game as part of a conditioning stint with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
Having not played since the final game of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, Landeskog stepped onto the ice for the first time in nearly three years. Based on his performance, he appeared confident and didn’t seem to have missed a beat.
The crowd gave Landeskog a heartfelt standing ovation during pre-game warmups, with fans chanting “Landy!” as a show of support for one of the most respected players in hockey.
In the game itself, the Eagles triumphed over the Henderson Silver Knights with a 2-0 victory. Trent Miner posted a 29-save shutout. Although the game held importance for both teams, Landeskog’s return was the highlight of the night.
After the game, Landeskog shared his thoughts: “It was awesome. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time… there were times when I didn’t know if it was going to happen, so it felt great being back in the battle.”
The Eagles will face the Silver Knights again on Saturday night, but it’s uncertain whether Landeskog will play in back-to-back games. As part of his AHL conditioning stint, Landeskog is eligible for two more games, with the possibility of a two-game extension, giving him up to five AHL games. If all goes well, Landeskog could be ready to return to the NHL for the 2025 playoffs.
