Notebook: Is Gabriel Landeskog Actually Nearing a Return?

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog joined the team for morning skate last Thursday ahead of a wild 6-5 overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres.

We’ve seen this story before — time and time again. Since Landeskog’s injury issues began, the captain has had several starts and stops. Sometimes he’ll skate with the team and other times he won’t be seen for several weeks. The 32-year-old is still working toward a comeback and hopes to return at some point this season.

Last week was the best he’s looked since undergoing a knee cartilage replacement nearly two years ago. But he hasn’t skated since, albeit he didn’t have many opportunities. Colorado practiced on Friday but didn’t have a morning skate on Saturday and were off Sunday.

With 42 games remaining before the playoffs begin, his status remains unclear, which begs the question:

Is Landeskog actually nearing a return?

It sure doesn’t feel like it. At least not yet. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported on Friday that Landeskog isn’t able to skate on consecutive days because his knee starts to swell.

“The big issue is that when he decides to push the knee, he then has to take a step back because he’s immediately hit with swelling and the knee blows up. That’s not good,” Seravalli said on Daily Faceoff Live. “He hasn’t been able to consistently push it. Until we see a two or three-week stretch where he’s an everyday participant in practice, that’s how you’ll know he’s getting close.

“He’s not close to that, he’s not close to returning.”

I still stand by the thought that he’ll play another game. When that’ll be and how good he’ll look are entirely different questions. Landeskog put his career on the line during that 2022 Stanley Cup run and delivered a championship. But it’s unbelievably sad to see what he’s gone through since. He was in the prime of his career and playing the best we’ve ever seen. In an alternate universe, Landeskog is on the same line as Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen over these last three seasons and potentially even putting up 100+ points, too. Imagine that.

I still hope he gets his return — even if it looks stark now. He deserves it.

All things considered, this season is likely going to end with some sort of resolution for Landeskog. If he’s back, great. It’s what everybody wants. But if he isn’t, you have to imagine the Avs are going to announce some sort of conclusion to this three-year-long process as they prepare for a potentially massive contract extension for Rantanen and eventually Cale Makar.

Juuso Parssinen

I’m still intrigued by this player but I think there’s an opportunity for him to succeed that hasn’t yet been presented. Parssinen went from playing with struggling center Casey Mittelstadt for half a game to being the third-line center flanked by wingers who aren’t long for this league. Oskar Olausson was sent back to the AHL following Saturday’s shootout loss and will be replaced by Tye Felhaber on Monday.

If the Avs could get healthy, I’d be interested in seeing him get a look with more viable NHL options.

Bednar’s postgame

Count me as one who was legitimately surprised that the NHL didn’t fine head coach Jared Bednar following his postgame presser against the Sabres. Bednar ripped the referees pretty well but with a polite touch. Was his reputation the reason why he avoided the costly fine? Or did the NHL feel like it didn’t go over the line?

All things considered, Bednar’s comments were not as bad as we’ve seen from other coaches. He was polite and professional about it — although he did drop an F-bomb in the process. Which is something I’ve never seen from him. But at the same time, the league has been over-the-top protective of its officials for as long as I can remember. By that standard, I thought it warranted a fine. But glad to see it didn’t happen.