Stanley Cup Champion and colorado avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog will miss his second straight full season after the team announced Tuesday that he will undergo a cartilage transplant in his right knee.
Colorado announced Landeskog, who missed the entire 2022-23 regular season after helping the Avalanche win their third stanley cup, He was expected to miss next season and is scheduled to undergo another surgery on his right knee on Wednesday.
Colorado Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog skates with the puck in Game 6 of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Landeskog addressed the news during a press conference, telling reporters that the «long way» is the best option.
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«I just have to do the right thing for my health and really ultimately do what I can so I can get out there and play with the guys and continue to chase more Stanley Cups,» he said in a Zoom call Tuesday. .
Tampa Bay Lightning’s Erik Cernak (81) chases Colorado Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog (92) during the second period in Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)
«Is it going to be a long road? Yes. But the motivating factors are many.»
Landeskog expressed optimism about the procedure, adding that he even spoke with Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball who recently underwent the same surgery.
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«It’s a rare procedure for elite athletes and even more so for hockey players,» Landeskog said, via NHL.com. «But basketball players have had them done. In fact, I talked to Lonzo Ball, who had the same procedure done a couple of months ago.»
«He shared some thoughts on what the first few weeks have been like. He’s a guy I’ll talk to from time to time. It’s nice to connect with someone and have someone know what I’m talking about. And I know what he’s talking about by going through certain steps of process».
Colorado Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog skates with the Stanley Cup at a ceremony celebrating last season’s NHL championship before the home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at Ball Arena on October 12, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Landeskog hasn’t played since the decisive Cup triumph in tampa bay June 26 after recording 22 points in 20 games. While he hasn’t ruled out a playoff comeback next year, he said it’s too soon to set a timetable for when he’ll return.
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«I know it’s not going to be perfect early on, and there’s a lot of time left in the game. But… I know I can prepare, and I know it with the right guidance and the right one.» people around me, I am confident that I will come back and make a big impact on the ice.»
Associated Press contributed to this report.