Landeskog Makes Triumphant Return with Eagles: ‘I’ve Been Thinking About This For a Long Time’

LOVELAND, Colo. — You wouldn’t be able to tell that the guy suiting up in his first AHL game at the age of 32 years old was a grizzled NHL veteran and a Stanley Cup champion.

That’s how much excitement Gabriel Landeskog had just being back to playing hockey.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, and envisioning this, and envisioning being in a competitive hockey game again,” Landeskog said Friday following a 2-0 Colorado Eagles victory.

Landeskog played his first game in 1,020 days in an AHL rink for the Eagles. But the Avalanche’s long-time captain, more than anything, was thankful to have the opportunity. It wasn’t the team, the jersey, or the league he thought he’d ever have to play in. But it was a huge step in his three-year-long road to recovery that gives him every reason to cherish a moment that was truly a long time coming.

“There were times where I didn’t know if that was ever going to happen,” he said. “It felt great being in the battle again. On the bench, in the room, on the ice, all the nuances of a hockey game. Really fun being back.”

WATCH: Landeskog’s Full Media Availability

Playing on a line with T.J. Tynan and Oskar Olausson, Landeskog had two shots on goal — one of which was a golden opportunity on the penalty kill — and took a minor penalty. He had five shifts in each period and played just shy of 15 minutes. That was the plan that was made for him before the game, and it all went well.

It even exceeded expectations.

“That’s maybe more than I thought I was going to play in the first game back,” Landeskog said. “Really exciting that I feel as good as I do, and we’ll see what the future looks like.”

Landeskog was a key piece of the Eagles’ top power play; he killed penalties and took several faceoffs. He even threw his body around and was diving in desperation to poke pucks away and negate scoring chances for the other team and icings for his.

With all the attention Landeskog was getting, he was an uplifting part of the night rather than a distraction.

More importantly, beyond all the emotions, the welcoming return, and the media hoopla, there’s a player who’s trying to save his career. This wasn’t the start of any sort of retirement tour.

For Landeskog, yes, it’s about getting back to doing what he loves. But it’s also about taking that next step in a long road back — and seeing it through until he’s back to being the captain of the Avalanche.

“I think the drive to get better and my will to continue to improve game by game here is not going to stop,” Landeskog said. “I’ve got some game tape to review now, first game tape to review in a long time.”