Gabe Landeskog's Comeback Complete as He Prepares for Olympic Return
Just a month ago, Gabe Landeskog’s Olympic dream looked like it might be slipping away. After a scary collision with the goalpost during a January 4 matchup against the Florida Panthers, the Avalanche captain was left wondering if he’d get another shot at representing Sweden on the world stage.
Fast forward to now, and not only is Landeskog back on the ice, he’s healthy, confident, and ready to chase gold in Milan.
A Long Road Back
At 33, Landeskog knows what it takes to fight through adversity-he’s done it more than once. But even he admits the early stages of this recovery tested him.
“The first two weeks, I wasn’t very confident at all,” Landeskog said. “But once I passed that point, I started making steady progress-almost overnight, really. Every day felt better.”
It’s not hard to understand why there was so much concern. That crash into the post was more than just a routine bump-it looked like the kind of injury that could linger. And for a player eyeing what could be his final Olympic appearance, the timing couldn’t have been worse.
But Landeskog, ever the steady leader, pushed through the uncertainty. Now, after weeks of skating with the team and ramping up intensity, he’s reached a point where head coach Jared Bednar said he would’ve been in the lineup if Colorado had one more game before the break.
That’s a huge step forward-for Landeskog and for the Avalanche.
Olympic Stage Beckons
Landeskog last suited up for Sweden in the Olympics back in 2014, when NHL players were still part of the tournament. That year, he helped lead the Tre Kronor to a silver medal. His most recent international action came in 2017 at the World Championships, where he played a key role in Sweden’s gold medal run.
Now, more than a decade after his Olympic debut, Landeskog is getting another shot.
“I’m excited to be here, excited that I’m able to go and represent my country,” he said. “It’s a huge honor.”
And this time, he’ll be wearing the “C” for Sweden.
For Landeskog, it’s not just about being back-it’s about being able to play the game he loves at the highest level again, without being held back by injury.
“It’s exciting to just feel good,” he said. “To be able to do the things you want to do, and you love doing, and not be held back by anything-that’s exciting for sure.”
Avalanche Well-Represented in Milan
While Landeskog heads to Italy with Olympic gold in his sights, he won’t be the only Avalanche player making the trip. In fact, no NHL team is sending more players to the 2026 Winter Olympics than Colorado.
Eight Avs will suit up for their respective national teams across five different countries:
- Canada: Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews
- USA: Brock Nelson
- Sweden: Gabe Landeskog (Captain)
- Finland: Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Kiviranta
- Czechia: Martin Necas
It’s a testament to the depth and talent Colorado has built-and a sign of how much international respect this roster commands.
Reset for the Rest
While Landeskog and company gear up for Olympic competition, the rest of the Avalanche roster gets a much-needed break. The team enters the pause after a 4-2 win over the Sharks, but the road leading up to it has been rocky. Since January 1, Colorado has gone just 7-9-a far cry from the dominant 31-2-7 start they posted through their first 40 games.
“Normally you head into a bye week, this is going to be a lot longer,” Landeskog said. “It’ll be a good break, a good reset for a lot of guys.”
That reset could be exactly what the Avs need. With the Olympic break offering time to regroup, rest, and heal up, Colorado will be looking to come out of the gate strong once NHL play resumes.
But for now, all eyes shift to Milan-and for Gabe Landeskog, the journey back to the Olympic stage is complete. He’s healthy, he’s ready, and he’s got one more shot to lead his country to gold.