An Avalanche of Injury Updates: Will Landeskog Play in Olympics?

The Avalanche’s injury list has grown immensely over the past week or so. What started with only Logan O’Connor has extended to Mackenzie Blackwood, Joel Kiviranta, Devon Toews, and Gabe Landeskog. Gavin Brindley has also missed time and returned over this stretch.

O’Connor hasn’t played all year. He was close to returning from offseason hip surgery back in November before a new injury kept him out. His status is still unknown.

“Nothing on Logan. Still sorting that out,” head coach Jared Bednar said on Thursday.

Blackwood last played on Dec. 31 before the Avalanche went out on the road. Kiviranta hasn’t dressed since Dec. 29.

Both Toews and Landeskog sustained upper-body injuries on the road trip. Toews has missed the last two games, and Landeskog was injured in Florida and missed the game in Tampa Bay.

“Gabe is gonna miss weeks. There’s not much to know there, except he’s sore, and he’s going to miss some time, and then eventually start working his way back,” Bednar said. “So we’re going to be without him for a while.”

Bednar continued: “Toews is week to week. He’s not on the ice yet, he needs some rest and rehab before he progresses to getting on the ice. Kiviranta is the exact same. And Blackwood is on the ice. I would had him at week to week as well, but now he’s missed a week already, and he’s back on the ice, working through it. So I don’t have an exact timeline. We’ll see how this week goes. Hopefully, by the end of the week, he’s ready to go for next week.”

Landeskog and Toews are the most pressing injuries. For multiple reasons.

For one thing, they both play significant roles. When you add in Blackwood, the Avs are ultimately missing three of their six starters from the top line, No.1 defense pairing, and starting goalie. Those are big shoes to fill in terms of ice time and importance to Colorado’s success.

But what makes it even more fascinating for those two, specifically, as well as Kiviranta, is their participation in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. Landeskog was named as one of Team Sweden’s original six picks over the summer. Toews was named to Team Canada’s roster on New Year’s Eve, as expected. But somewhat surprisingly, Kiviranta made Team Finland, alongside teammate Artturi Lehkonen.

Toews and Kiviranta both sound like they should be good to partake in the tournament, which opens in 34 days.

Bednar made it clear that the Avalanche will not get in the way of any of them. If the player is feeling good enough to play for his country, he’ll play. If that’s what the player decides is best.

“100% player decision. We talked about this the other day, like, we want them to go. If it’s something they want, it’s something I want, it’s something our team wants,” Bednar said. “It’s not going to be an issue for Taser. Like, I expect him back. He’s week-to-week, and call that two weeks. Like he’s got a little bit of a runway. Kiviranta, the same thing.”

As for Landeskog, his status for the Olympics will be interesting to follow. It’s good news that there is a chance he’ll be back before then and be able to represent Team Sweden. But it still isn’t clear if that will be the case.

Although, worth noting that Bednar saying Landeskog is sore is a positive sign. Soreness isn’t usually a word you use to describe a major bone break or ligament tear.

“Gabe is going to be interesting. He’s a little bit more serious of an injury. He’s missed some time, but I’m really hoping for him that he’s able to get back and get playing, and now that will 100% be his decision,” Bednar said. “We’re not going to stand in their way. I know that can make you nervous a little bit, guys going in that have some injuries, and rest would do them good. Yeah, I get it.

“But this is the Olympics, and it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some of these guys.”