Avalanche F Gabriel Landeskog could return 'near' start of season

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog could return to the lineup shortly after the start of the upcoming season, head coach Jared Bednar announced.

Landeskog, 31, has been sidelined since helping the team capture the Stanley Cup at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season. He has been out while recovering from surgeries on his quadriceps and knee.

"He's trying to make a return here sometime near the start of the season and if that goes well, it would be a really big boost for us," Bednar told NHL.com on Saturday. "So, that's something we're all a little anxious about, but really excited about as well. He hasn't played for us in two years."

Landeskog has totaled 571 points (248 goals, 323 assists) in 739 career games since being selected by the Avalanche with the second overall pick of the 2011 NHL Draft.

Bednar said Logan O'Connor is on pace to return for the start of the season following hip surgery, while fellow forward Artturi Lehkonen is "a question mark" while recovering from shoulder surgery.

"You're talking about two first-line wingers and Lehkonen, obviously, the same kind of things," Bednar said. "All those guys kind of bounce around in our top six depending on who we want them to play with, but three guys that can make the impact those three guys can make, obviously, it changes the whole dynamic of our team."

O'Connor, 28, recorded a career-high 13 goals to go along with 12 assists in 57 games last season.

He has 82 points (35 goals, 42 assists) in 263 career games over parts of six seasons with Colorado.

Lehkonen, 29, recorded 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 11 playoff games last spring after tallying 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 45 games during the regular season.

The Finland native has collected 243 points (117 goals, 126 assists) in 521 games with the Montreal Canadiens and Avalanche. The Canadiens drafted him in the second round in 2013.

--Field Level Media