CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) 鈥� The first sign this wasn't a retirement announcement: The Colorado captain showed up wearing an Avalanche hat, shirt and shorts as if he'd just gone through a workout.
鈥淚 think I'd dress up a bit more," he cracked Thursday as he chatted alongside general manager Chris MacFarland for around 50 minutes about his health, the pain of watching the team being eliminated from the playoffs, and his desire to keep playing.
The 31-year-old Landeskog has missed the last two seasons because of his right knee. But he's making strides toward a return after undergoing cartilage replacement surgery last May. Precisely when he will be back, though, he's not quite certain.
鈥淏etween mid-September and the start of April,鈥� Landeskog said with a laugh. 鈥淚 feel pretty good about it.鈥�
Like Landeskog, Nichushkin's status remains to be determined. The Russian forward received at least a six-month suspension without pay last week for violating terms of the . He鈥檚 sidelined until some point next season.
But the door is open for Nichushkin to come back.
鈥淧riority 1 is for Val to get the help he needs,鈥� MacFarland said. 鈥淎ssuming he does, and after the six months, we鈥檒l have to read and react on that. But it's very plausible that he will be back with the Avalanche.鈥�
Landeskog, the Avalanche captain since 2012, said he struggled with how best to help Nichushkin, whose off-the-ice issues led to him leaving in the middle of a second straight post-season.
鈥淚mmediately when the news broke, my reaction was, 鈥榃hat else could I have done?'" Landeskog said. "Everybody has their own opinions of the situation, but he鈥檚 a teammate of ours. We hope he gets right. We hope he gets what he needs and is able to come back and help us moving forward.
鈥淗e needs to look out for himself, but he also needs to be a part of what we鈥檙e trying to accomplish here, and I think that鈥檚 important as well.鈥�
Landeskog skated with the team before they were eliminated in the second round by Dallas. After the series, coach Jared Bednar said Landeskog wasn鈥檛 that close to a return.
The player called 鈥淟andy鈥� hasn't played since June 26, 2022, when Colorado beat Tampa Bay to secure its third title in franchise history.
鈥淚t's just kind of a slow form of torture,鈥� Landeskog said of rehabbing and not helping in the post-season. 鈥淵ou want to be there to support them and just kind of go through all those things with them, whether it鈥檚 the ups or downs."
To return to hockey's summit, MacFarland said, the team needs a healthy Landeskog, who has five seasons left on a $56 million, eight-year contract signed in 2021.
鈥淟isten, we can鈥檛 go and get a guy the calibre, the player or the person that Gabe is,鈥� MacFarland said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a massive cog in what we鈥檙e trying to do. He鈥檚 earned the right to have as much time as it takes to get back on the ice. Absolutely, it鈥檚 a cap challenge."
Same with Nichushkin, who signed an eight-year, $49 million contract in 2022. There's a trust factor to win back, too. In a first-round playoff series a year ago , Nichushkin abruptly left the team for what was explained as personal reasons. He missed the final five games of the post-season as the Avalanche lost the series 4-3.
鈥淚 think it's hard," MacFarland said of earning back trust.
Termination, MacFarland mentioned, wasn't an option at this time.
鈥淭he best thing I can say is we鈥檙e pulling for Val to do what he needs to do, to take care of himself,鈥� MacFarland said. "Hopefully he鈥檒l take the next six months to get himself right.鈥�
Landeskog's injury stems back to the 2020 bubble season when he was sliced by a skate in a playoff game against the Stars. He said he suffered a cartilage injury on the bottom of his patella.
It's been a long road back.
鈥淭here are days when I go out there and I鈥檇 love to try to go for a max sprint for a puck," said Landeskog, the second overall pick by Colorado in 2011. "But I know that鈥檚 not going to be the best decision for my health. You鈥檝e got to earn the right to do those things.鈥�
Because his goal is not only to return for his teammates but for his family, which includes his young daughter and son. Just so they can see him play.
鈥淚 say I'm going to work but my son will question, 鈥榃ell, you鈥檙e not skating, though, you鈥檙e not playing, so are you really going to work?鈥�" Landeskog said. "I鈥檝e explained to them that I need to get stronger. I need to get healthy.
"I just can鈥檛 wait to be back out there and give my family big hugs after the game. It will be pretty special.鈥�
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AP NHL:
Pat Graham, The Associated Press
