Gabriel Landeskog had a heartfelt message for Avs fans after his comeback

Gabriel Landeskog went on one of the wildest rides in professional sports history as he worked his way back from injury, and the Avalanche captain took time to reflect on his return

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

Jun 4, 2025, 1:29 PM

Follow on Google News

Watch: Why haven't the Avs gotten a deal done with Cale Makar? | Stokley and Evans with Mark Schlereth | 1 min

The biggest, most heartwarming story for the Colorado Avalanche this past season was the return of their captain, Gabriel Landeskog. After suffering a quad injury in 2020 and fighting through the pain to win the Stanley Cup in 2022, it seemed that a return to the ice might’ve been impossible for the Swede after he missed the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Midway through the 2025 season, his future looked bleak as he would never have a date for his return set in stone. Then, some murmurs started happening, some videos of him at practice started surfacing, and all of a sudden, he was up in Loveland skating with the Colorado Eagles just before the Avalanche were set to kick off the postseason. By the time Game 3 of the playoffs rolled around, the roof was about to blow off of Ball Arena as he was introduced in the starting lineup for his first NHL action in 1,032 days.

While his season didn’t have the magical, storybook ending with a championship — and rather a sour one thanks to the Avalanche blowing a two-goal lead late in Game 7 — there were still plenty of great moments from the five games he played to carry into next season.

The captain took time to reflect on his season in an Instagram post on Tuesday, showing his appreciation for the fans, his team and everyone involved in his road back to the ice.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gabriel Landeskog (@landeskog.92)

“1032 days. Taking some time to digest this. Hard to put into words what it felt like being back on the ice, with my teammates, and in front of you amazing fans,” Landeskog said. “It’s been a long journey, but man has it been worth it. Thank you for the incredible support over the last three years, the thoughtful messages, the encouraging words on the street, or just the patience you’ve shown, I couldn’t have done it without you. Excited for what’s to come!!”

The 32-year-old had a goal and three assists in his five appearances in the postseason along with a goal and an assists in the two games he played in the AHL for the Eagles.

GABRIEL LANDESKOG HAS SCORED A GOAL!!!

HE IS SOOOOO BACK!!! pic.twitter.com/VdqGzE85x5

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 27, 2025

If his offseason goes as planned, Landeskog should be back on the ice for Colorado next season, especially now that he has a center to pair nicely with on the second line in Brock Nelson for the next couple of seasons. It’s unlikely that he plays in every single game in the 2025-26 season, as his body has been through almost anything imaginable, but if he can get in a rhythm for the playoffs and build chemistry with Nelson, it should result in a productive postseason as he chases a second championship