AVALANCHE

Avs say Landeskog will undergo another knee surgery, out for 2023-2024

May 9, 2023, 8:55 AM | Updated: 11:44 am

Gabriel Landeskog...

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

*** This story has been updated below ***

You have to wonder if this is it for Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog.

After missing the entire 2022-2023 season thanks to a knee that simply wouldn’t go healthy, Landeskog is nowhere close to getting back on the ice.

He’ll undergo yet another surgery on Wednesday, one that is expected to sideline him for the entire 2023-2024 season, the team announced. Landeskog’s played just 20 hockey games the last 14 months, but they were important ones. Those 20 helped the Avalanche capture the franchise’s third Stanley Cup last summer.

Landeskog desperately wanted to get back for this year’s playoffs, but just couldn’t do it. The team originally offered up a 12-week timeline when he underwent surgery in October, but that kept getting extended.

At an emotional press conference right before the season ended, Landeskog announced he wouldn’t be able to play in the postseason. The Avalanche couldn’t defend their Cup, bowing out in Round 1 to the Seattle Kraken in seven games.

Now, it’s unclear if the 30-year-old will be able to play in the NHL again. Missing two full seasons is a significant amount of time, but if anyone can bounce back, it’s Colorado’s resilient captain.

Landeskog and Avs GM Chris MacFarland will meet with the media at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday and this story will be updated.

(Update 11:44 a.m.) –

Landeskog spoke with the media via Zoom and offered a couple of important updates. Those are outlined in the tweets below, with the most important takeaway being he did not consider retirement.

Landeskog also didn’t shut the door on a return for next year’s playoffs, but emphasized it’s way too early to think that far ahead.

MacFarland also chatted with the media, and mentioned that while it’s nice to know Landeskog will be out as they enter free agency, there’s no replacing his leadership. Replacing his hockey skills will also be tough.

The Avalanche currently have a little more than $13 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. They’ll free up another $7 million once Landeskog is put on long-term injured reserve.

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Avs say Landeskog will undergo another knee surgery, out for 2023-2024