Avalanche coach Jared Bednar expects captain Gabe Landeskog to miss start of the season

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Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche speaks during the team’s end-of-year press conference at Family Sports Center in Centennial, Colorado on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar does not expect captain Gabe Landeskog to be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season.

Bednar, speaking to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com at the South Carolina Stingrays Fan Fest in North Charleston, S.C., said there is optimism that Landeskog could return during the first or second month of the season. Landeskog has missed the past two seasons for the Avs after four procedures, including cartilage replacement surgery on his right knee in May 2023.

“It’s just when he feels well enough to sort of keep ramping up and taking the next step,” Bednar said. “It’s been a long time now, so there’s no rush. It’s just all with what he’s feeling comfortable with. … Just what he’s been able to do both in the gym with his training off the ice and what he’s been able to do on the ice, we’re certainly optimistic that he’ll be able to come back.”

Landeskog tried to return near the end of the 2022-23 season but was unable to. The Avs ruled him out for the 2023-24 season before it began, which allowed the club to place him on long-term injured reserve and use the $7 million in cap savings to add roster reinforcements.

The Avs have previously said that Landeskog’s timeline for recovery from the cartilage replacement surgery was 12-16 months. He was skating on his own by the end of last season and joined the team for morning skates during the playoffs, but was never a full participant and Colorado lost in the second round to Dallas.

“He’s trying to make a return here sometime near the start of the season and if that goes well, it would be a really big boost for us,” said Bednar, who played for and coached the Stingrays in the ECHL. “So, that’s something we’re all a little anxious about, but really excited about as well.”

Bednar also said that Artturi Lehkonen, who needed shoulder surgery after last season ended, is still a “question mark” for the start of the season. That is in line with what general manager Chris MacFarland said shortly after the Avalanche lost the series against the Stars.

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