Unfortunate Health Of Colorado Star Is The Great Unknown For Avalanche

At some point in their lives on the ice, NHL players will deal with injuries. It's part and parcel of playing a high-speed contact sport. But for some unfortunate players, their injuries can jeopardize their careers. And Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog's current health woes have dragged on far longer than anyone feared, affecting not only himself, but the Avs' fortunes as well.

Colorado has made many moves this season, but Landeskog's potential return is very much up in the air in Denver, and it could impact the Avalanche's ability to push for a Stanley Cup.

Landeskog hasn't played a game since June of 2022, because of complications from a severe knee injury that led to a cartilage transplant in May of 2023. Recently, there have been sightings of Landeskog on the ice, but he's not close to returning to practice or game action, and there's a possibility he never will return. It's a terrible situation for the 32-year-old, but the reality could be bleak indeed for him.

Of course, everyone wishes for the best for Landeskog, but the Avalanche still have to move on without him for now. They can use his $7-million salary to spend on other players -- an experienced second-line center, perhaps -- but if he is able to return this season, Landeskog will cause somewhat of a salary cap crunch. The Avs would be thrilled to have him back, but no one knows how his rebuilt knee is going to hold up to the rigors of the NHL grind. It's a bona fide mystery, and Colorado management has no public timeline for Landeskog's return.

Related: Landeskog recovering ‘slow and steady’

A comparable situation for Landeskog is probably former Washington Capitals star center Nicklas Backstrom, who took an indefinite leave of absence from the game in 2023 after hip resurfacing surgery did not allow him to continue playing the game. Backstrom's $9.2-million salary will come to an end this season, and he's expected to officially retire after that. It was a terrible probable end to Backstrom's career, but there's nothing anyone could do about it.

Nobody wants to end their playing days on that kind of sad note, but very few players get to author their exit from the sport. And we may be getting to that point with Landeskog. If the Hockey Gods are kind to him, he could thrill fans by returning to his peak form.

Related: Avalanche 'certainly optimistic' on Gabriel Landeskog's return

But the Avalanche have to go on as if he isn't coming back. And until we get a definitive prognosis on Landeskog's future, the mystery -- The Great Unknown of it all -- will continue for him.