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Out since hoisting the Stanley Cup on June 26, 2022, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog will suit up for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on Friday night as he continues his comeback from right knee issues.

Landeskog, 32, is eligible to play in three games with the Eagles as part of his conditioning with an eye toward joining the Avalanche for their playoff run, which will begin next weekend against the Dallas Stars.

“When he says he’s ready to play, he’s gonna play,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar told reporters on Thursday about Landeskog, who has been skating and practicing on a limited basis for months.

Landeskog, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft and the 2011-12 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL’s best rookie, has undergone several procedures on his right knee, including cartilage transplant surgery in May 2023.

No NHL player has undergone that surgery and returned, but the Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball of the NBA had it performed in March 2023 and came back this season.

Landesog’s knee issues began during the NHL’s Covid bubble in 2019-20, when he suffered an accidental skate cut. He has since missed two full seasons.

He is on long-term injured reserve, so he does not count against Colorado’s roster the salary cap.

In his 11 seasons with the Avalanche, Landeskog has 571 points (248 goals, 323 assists) in 738 games.

–Field Level Media