Teammates within the Avalanche locker room are excited about the possible return of Gabriel Landeskog for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Players in other organizations share those same sentiments. That is, of course, unless you have to face Colorado with Landeskog in the lineup.
“Is he gonna come back the day that we play against him, and we’re screwed?” Charlie Coyle joked, remembering his time with the Boston Bruins when the Landeskog recovery was followed from afar.
When someone perseveres to the level Landeskog has, it becomes a league-wide story. Players around the NHL take notice of what’s possible. After all, injuries could come to anyone at any time, and the road to recovery isn’t always easy.
Being able to draw inspiration from Landeskog could help.
“You’re always curious about things and what certain guys are going through, especially when it’s this long of a recovery,” Coyle said. “You never know if you could be in a similar situation later.”
Coyle and fellow centerman Brock Nelson have never suited up alongside Landeskog. That looks like it’s going to change soon.
They were acquired before the March 7 trade deadline to shore up Colorado’s center depth. Nelson, like Coyle, admitted that he was following Landeskog’s recovery while playing on Long Island.
“I think there are a lot of guys around the league that followed it a little bit,” he said. “The hockey community is a tight one and seeing the support for him now proves that.
“You’re ultimate competitors, and you go out there and you battle one another, and you play hard and a physical game, but at the end of the day, everyone obviously wants to see each other do well, and have healthy careers.”
Landeskog’s return has not yet been confirmed, but it’s leaning that way. After his successful two-game stint in the AHL over the weekend, the Avs announced Tuesday morning that they were cutting his conditioning stint short. He recorded a goal and an assist on Saturday after making his return to professional hockey on Friday.
Landeskog rejoined the Avs for optional practice and is slated to take part in Wednesday’s full-team skate.
The secret is slowly trickling out that his return is getting close to becoming a reality.
Erik Johnson told the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast that they’re expecting to have Landeskog back for Game 1. Fellow blueliner Devon Toews told Altitude Sports Radio to “tune in and find out” when asked if the now 32-year-old captain will play in the playoff opener.
We might not get confirmation until Saturday’s morning skate.
“To see a guy make a comeback is a testament to his character and his work ethic,” Nelson said.
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