What Happened to Gabriel Landeskog?

Gabriel Landeskog's professional ice hockey career has been marked by early success, steadfast leadership, and a challenging battle with injuries. Drafted second overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Landeskog quickly established himself, earning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2012. On September 4, 2012, at just 19 years and 286 days old, he was named the fourth captain in Avalanche history, becoming the youngest captain in NHL history at the time.

His career trajectory saw him sign a seven-year, $39 million contract extension in 2013, followed by an eight-year, $56 million extension in July 2021, solidifying his commitment to the Avalanche. The pinnacle of his career came in June 2022, when he captained the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup championship, a moment he described as the culmination of over two decades of dreaming and working. However, this triumph was immediately followed by a severe setback. Landeskog had played through a significant knee injury during the championship season, which was initially sustained during the 2020 playoffs.

Following the Stanley Cup win, Landeskog underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, which was expected to sideline him for at least twelve weeks of the 2022-23 season. The injury proved more severe than anticipated, leading to him missing the entire 2022-23 season. In May 2023, the Avalanche announced that Landeskog required a cartilage transplant surgery on his right knee, a procedure that typically entails a 12-18 month recovery period. This meant he would miss the entirety of the 2023-24 season and the subsequent regular season.

After 1,032 days away from NHL competition, Landeskog made his highly anticipated return on April 23, 2025, playing in Game 3 of the 2025 Western Conference First Round against the Dallas Stars, after a conditioning stint with the AHL's Colorado Eagles. He scored his first goal in 1,041 days in a 4-0 Avalanche win in Game 4, though the Avalanche ultimately lost the series in seven games. His comeback continued into the 2025-26 season, where he played 60 regular-season games, contributing 14 goals and 21 assists. Throughout this season, Landeskog utilized advanced biomechanical data from sensors in his skates and shoes to manage his workload and prevent further injury, a critical component of his sustained return.

Despite his successful return, the 2025-26 season was not without its challenges. Landeskog sustained an upper-body injury in early January 2026, which sidelined him for several weeks but he recovered in time to represent Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. In March 2026, he was again placed on a week-to-week timeline with a lower-body injury, though he returned to the lineup later that month. As of May 27, 2026, Gabriel Landeskog is a key player for the Colorado Avalanche, who are currently competing in the Western Conference Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights, demonstrating remarkable perseverance and dedication to the sport.