The Colorado Avalanche loan star forward and team captain Gabriel Landeskog to the AHL for a conditioning stint ahead of the playoffs. News of the assignment took place Wednesday morning.
Colorado Avalanche Loan Gabriel Landeskog to AHL for Assignment
The Avalanche have loaned star forward and captain Gabriel Landeskog to their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on a long-anticipated conditioning stint. This marks a major step forward in his recovery from knee surgery that kept him out of the NHL lineup for the entire 2023–24 season.
Gabriel Landeskog has been loaned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on a conditioning assignment. pic.twitter.com/FgEu05vIiY
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 9, 2025
Landeskog, 31, last played during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he was instrumental in helping the Avalanche win their third championship. Since then, he’s faced a grueling rehabilitation process following cartilage transplant surgery in May 2023. While his timeline for an NHL return was always uncertain, this AHL assignment signals real progress.
Importantly, this move isn’t about a demotion. Instead, it provides Landeskog the chance to ramp up his game speed in a lower-stakes environment. With playoff hockey around the corner, the Avalanche hope their captain can rejoin the lineup at full strength.
What This Means for the Avalanche
Landeskog’s return couldn’t come at a better time. Although Colorado has found success without him, his leadership and physical presence have been missed. He brings two-way reliability, power-play effectiveness, and playoff experience that will be crucial down the stretch.
Additionally, his presence could inject much-needed energy into the lineup. If Landeskog can regain form, he’ll be a difference-maker both on the scoresheet and in the dressing room.
Fans should temper expectations, though. Conditioning stints don’t guarantee instant returns. Still, the move to loan Landeskog to the Eagles is the most encouraging sign yet. With a few AHL games under his belt, he might just be ready to don the “C” again in time for another deep playoff run.
If his stint goes smoothly, expect Landeskog back in the NHL before long — just in time to help Colorado chase another Cup.
Main photo by: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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