The Colorado Avalanche announced on Tuesday that their captain Gabriel Landeskog will miss the entire 2023-24 NHL season. According to the team, Landeskog is set to undergo a cartilage transplant to address a right knee injury.
Landeskog already missed the 2022-23 campaign because of the same knee. He underwent surgery in October and was initially set to return in three months but never made it back on ice.
The Avalanche and Landeskog now hope that the second surgery can resolve the issue once and for all, allowing the 30-year-old player to continue playing without further setbacks. Landeskog already made it clear that retirement isn’t an option.
“I have not contemplated retirement at all, to be honest with you,” Landeskog told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s about identifying a problem and figuring out a solution. Until I’ve exhausted every option, I’m going to keep pushing forward.”
Landeskog added that while he’ll miss the 2023-24 regular season, he could eventually return for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs if everything goes to plan.
“It’s too early to tell, but I’m definitely leaving that door open, if that’s how we want to put it,” he said.
Gabriel Landeskog has 248 goals and 323 assists in 738 games with the Avalanche. He helped the franchise win Stanley Cup in 2022 and has one All-Star appearance on his resume.
