There are a few players I respect more in the league than Gabriel Landeskog.

It’s unbelievable to believe that the last time he was in a professional hockey game, he was holding the Stanley Cup above his head as the captain of the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.

Since then, he’s had several attempts to return that took backward steps, and yet the guy’s passion for playing the game….which is all THIS is because he’s made all the money he ever needs to make……but his passion for playing has enabled him to work and work and work and work to get back.

Last night, he did….

Last night, he played 14 minutes on loan to the Avalanche’s AHL Affiliate: The Colorado Golden Eagles. He was admittedly nervous. Whike he was very up front about the fact he was a bit frustrated with his game, don’t think for a second that is going to stop this guy. He hasn’t played for almost three years. To be a bit rusty is….well more than excused.

Colorado is going to take this slow. He’s definitely at his own pace, and there’s no rush to get him back in the lineup. No target date. But I think last night alone is well worth a mention and congratulations for the amount of struggles and work Gabe has put into this.

Pure hockey player. Through and through.

In last night’s game, he did play on the power play and shorthanded, as well as even strength.

But the excitement you can see in his eyes….even playing only 14 minutes of a professional hockey game….makes it hard to doubt he will at some point findi his way back into the Avalanche lineup….

He also admitted in post-game interviews that he is going to have to curb his expectations a little bit because he knows this is going to take some time. Patients must be hard to muster at this point. There’s no doubt he wants to be back in an Avalanche uniform yesterday.

It would be hard to imagine him returning in the playoffs. Especially considering the competition in Colorado is up against and the intensity those games are going to have.

It would be smart to hold out till next year.

Like all of us who have gone through a life challenge Landeskog can only take this one day at a time… or in his case, one shift at a time… ther is still a way to go….

But I’m not betting against him

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