Jared Bednar gave a promising update on Gabriel Landeskog’s status ahead of Game 3

After scratching him just minutes before Game 2 in Dallas yesterday, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar gave a promising update on the status of Gabriel Landeskog heading into Game 3

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

Apr 23, 2025, 8:50 AM Updated: 9:02 am

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The Gabriel Landeskog saga has been a roller coaster over the last month for the Colorado Avalanche. From possibly having a setback in the back half of the regular season, to having a docuseries come out, to his AHL stint in Loveland, to being activated off the LTIR to being scratched before Game 2. For Avalanche fans, all they want is to see their captain back out on the ice for the first time since he raised the Stanley Cup over his head in June 2022.

On Wednesday morning, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar gave an update that fans everywhere wanted to hear.

“There’s a good chance that [Landeskog’s] going to play tonight,” Bednar said in an interview.

It has been 1,032 days since Landeskog was on the ice for the Avalanche. Heading into Game 2 on Monday night, all signs pointed to him making his return, as he was activated off the LTIR. He went through warmups, but did not take any rushes, and was then scratched before the puck dropped. Miles Wood then played in the spot he would’ve been in on the third line, and had a turnover late in overtime that led to the game-winning goal that sent the series back to Denver tied at one apiece.

The important thing to note with Bednar’s update is that he did not officially confirm that Landeskog would be in the lineup for Game 3. If he is back, will he be the same player that he was three years ago?

“Nobody really knows,” Bednar said.

Landeskog’s return would also call for a change in the lines, unless he were to replace Wood in the winger spot on the third line, a void left behind by Ross Colton after he suffered an injury in Game 1.

While Bednar didn’t go into detail about his plans with the lines for Wednesday’s game at Ball Arena, he did show that he was frustrated with his second line after the loss on Monday, implying that change was necessary. With Landeskog’s return, a fourth line that’s playing excellent hockey through two games, and a struggling second line, the Avs coach has a lot on his plate before the most pivotal game the team has played so far this year.

All signs once again point to the captain’s return. However, nothing is for certain until No. 92 for the burgundy and blue is on the ice once the puck drops.