Avs GM won’t say if Gabriel Landeskog will play in the postseason

The Colorado Avalanche are playing it cool when it comes to the game status of captain Gabriel Landeskog.

On Tuesday, head coach Jared Bednar wouldn’t say if Landeskog will be back for Round 1, Game 1 against the Dallas Stars. On Wednesday, GM Chris MacFarland took a similar approach.

“Whether it’s Gabe Landeskog or Parker Kelly or anybody, we’re not going to get in to day by day lineup decisions on any player,” MacFarland told the media after Avalanche practice.

For Landeskog, he had a historic weekend. He made his return to competitive hockey nearly three years in the making. Landeskog underwent cartilage replacement surgery in his knee in May of 2023. He hadn’t played in a real game since June of 2022 when the Avs won the Stanley Cup.

That all changed on Friday and Saturday, when Gabriel Landeskog played in two games for the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate. He was transferred back to the pro team on Tuesday, and practiced with the Avs the last two days. But the team is deep, rolling five lines of NHL forward talent at Family Sports Center.

5 lines at practice today with all the forwards.

Lehkonen – MacKinnon – Necas
Drouin – Nelson – Nichushkin
Colton – Coyle – Kiviranta
Kelly – Drury – LOC
Landeskog – Wood – Vesey

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) April 16, 2025

As for Landeskog’s recovery, MacFarland is certainly proud of him after everything he’s been through.

“But for Gabe, honestly, it is day by day. We’re getting information every day. These are all new milestones for him, believer it or not,” MacFarland said. “Now he’s got to see how he’s coming off a very unique situation that he’s had to deal with for three years. And what he’s trying to do is incredible.”

And that goal is to play in NHL games once again. We’ll see what ultimately Bednar, MacFarland and the Avalanche decide, but no matter how this shakes out, what Gabriel Landeskog has already pulled off is truly remarkable.

Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland says it’s “day by day” with regards to Gabriel Landeskog’s return #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/IY287GDno6

— Denver Sports 104.3 (@DenSports1043) April 16, 2025

Related

Cale Makar voted NHL’s best defenseman a fifth year in a rowAvalanche name new head coach for AHL affiliate EaglesFive most important Avalanche games during the 2026-27 seasonNHL drops schedule for 2026-27 Avalanche seasonFirst Avalanche game of 2026-27 season announced, it’s in SeptemberAvs make three more depth signings, including forward with 477 NHL games