Colorado Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland recently told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun that the team is hoping captain Gabriel Landeskog can be healthy in time for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. MacFarland said to LeBrun, “We’re hoping… There’s still so much that needs to be gleaned in this so it’s hard to put a timeline on it.” Landeskog is recovering from receiving a cartilage transplant in his right knee that he received in May.
Landeskog underwent his first knee procedure in March 2022, returning for the team’s Stanley Cup run where he recorded a dazzling 22 points in 20 playoff games. But the weight of a Cup run may have taken a toll on Landeskog’s weak knee, which required an additional surgery in October 2022. This second operation was intended to be a less invasive way to get Landeskog back on the ice. But after he missed the entire 2022-23 regular season, he decided to opt for the transplant.
And while certainly daunting, the cartilage replacement process isn’t unheard of in top athletes. Landeskog worked with Dr. Brian Cole and Dr. Rachel Frank, two sports physicians who were involved when former Senators defender Marc Methot received the same surgery in 2019. And while the surgery has an 85 percent success rate, nothing is guaranteed. Methot told exactly that to the Associated Press, saying, “I’m sure [Landeskog] has had the same conversation with Dr. Cole where he won’t be promised anything… There’s no certainty that you’re going to feel the way you did when you left.”
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball underwent the same surgery in March of this year and will be held out of the 2022-23 NBA season as a result. Ball had a similar path to the surgery as Landeskog, undergoing an unsuspecting knee surgery that spiraled into three operations, finished with the cartilage transplant. Landeskog used conversations with Ball, and plenty of research, to guide his decision to receive the operation.
Chris MacFarland remains optimistic about Landeskog’s prospects, if by necessity if nothing else. He told The Athletic, “… I wouldn’t bet against Gabriel Landeskog in anything. If there’s somebody that’s going to deal with what he’s dealing with, with the right attitude and determination, it’s him. He’s our Viking.” Landeskog was a point-per-game forward right up until his injury took him out of commission. Adding his scoresheet impact, and his leadership qualities, could provide an exciting jolt to the Avalanche lineup come the Spring. But that’s if the captain can overcome a difficult journey with this knee injury.
I wish all GMs would think twice before they allow injured players to suit up in playoff games, The idea that Patrice Bergeron at 50% is better than a 4th liner at 100% is a Neanderthal approach, In fact that attitude is what sunk the Bruins in the 1st round of the playoffs last spring. Lindholm, Ullmark, And Bergeron all had serious injuries but yet they were on the ice and completely ineffective. I’m guessing that Landeskog will be back no sooner than September 2024.
Dumb comment, as usual. For one, what makes you so smart to say he will be back in September 2024, when doctors are saying he could be back as soon as April? Allowing a player to play injured is not just a GMs decision, it’s a team decision that also includes the player, so pinning it on one person is just wrong. Your point of playing through injuries “sinking” teams in the playoffs is proven wrong by this very article as Landeskog was over a point per game in Colorado’s Cup run all while playing through an injury that has kept him out for over a year.
I’m right and your welcome!
“Your welcome”, you can’t even spell buddy. That’s tough.
Landy will make it happen!
I’m thinking a certain #4 would have loved to have had an option for 85% success rate, as well as a few million of us on our side of the fence. We’ll see if Landy can keep his focus and not try to get ready before it’s time.
Sounds like another cap circumvention.
Yep. It’s a diabolical plan to hold their captain out for 2 full seasons including a first round exit, just to get him back for 0 cap hit in this year’s playoffs. The plan was set in motion during the cup parade im sure…..