Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog and general manager Chris MacFarland just finished a press conference with the media to answer any questions they had for them, and they were asked plenty of questions. When the Avalanche lost to the Dallas Stars in six games in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, many questions were brought to mind. With the time the media had, much was to be brought up about free agency, unrestricted free agents, prospects, and injuries along the way.
Many were shocked, scared, and surprised when they announced that Landeskog was joining MacFarland, not President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic or head coach Jared Bednar. Landeskog was a significant story throughout the season due to his rehab from his knee surgery. Especially during the playoffs, we had constant sightings of him either skating or doing some shooting and practice drills alone to potentially make his return. So, what did we get from the two? The beginning of the press conference was a highlight, so we shall start there.
The Captain isn’t Finished Just Yet
Right from the start of the live stream I was watching at home, Avalanche PR head Brendan McNicholas announced, “Big News: Gabe is not retiring.” That was the start of many questions about his future with the team. As the season has come to an end and the focus shifts to the draft, free agency, and the slow buildup to the 2024-25 season, many are wondering about Landeskog’s progress. If the Avalanche were to beat the Stars and move on to Round 3, would he have been close to returning? “Mentally I felt pretty close,” he stated but continued that it was ultimately the best decision for him to keep rehabilitating instead of forcing his return.
“I’ve felt really good now for two straight months, physically with no setbacks, minor or major,” stated Landeskog when asked about essential benchmarks in his recovery. His presence in the locker room and training facilities is one thing. Still, his impact on the ice is another, and while he might not have the skill ceiling of teammates like Nathan MacKinnon or Cale Makar, his physicality and knowledge on ice are challenging to replicate. Many wondered what a timeline could look like to begin next season with him on the starting lineup come the first game of the 2024-25 regular season; he…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…