Landeskog: 'Body feels great' after AHL debut

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is feeling positive after participating in his first professional hockey game in three years Friday night.

Landeskog suited up for the AHL's Colorado Eagles as part of his current conditioning assignment. His last game before Friday was Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, a span of 1,020 days. The 32-year-old underwent three knee surgeries in 15 months, including a cartilage transplant in May 2023, after helping the Avalanche won the championship.

"Body feels great," Landeskog said, per Flo Hockey's Chris Peters. "Was telling some of the guys on the bench my knee feels great. I'm just tired. We're going to work on that."

Landeskog played 15 shifts in Colorado's 2-0 win. He logged two shots on goal and took a minor penalty.

"Obviously there was some nerves going into it. ... I was just trying to enjoy it. Get out there, enjoy it, get into the game," Landeskog told the media postgame, according to DNVR Sports. "Physically I feel great. Obviously it's the first game in a long time, so I've got plenty of things to work on and get better at. But it was a lot of fun."

It's unclear when Landeskog might rejoin the Avalanche. Colorado has two regular-season games remaining before likely meeting the Dallas Stars in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Landeskog is still on long-term injured reserve but would be eligible to return for the playoffs when the salary cap isn't enforced. He's under contract for four more seasons with a $7-million cap hit.

The Avalanche drafted Landeskog second overall in 2011 and gave him the "C" in 2012, making him the youngest captain in NHL history at the time. He's accrued 571 points in 738 games for the franchise.