3.16 Landeskog COL

Gabriel Landeskog could be back before the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after the Colorado Avalanche forward had knee surgery Monday.

"We're waiting for our doctors to catch up with the doctor who did the surgery and give us a firm timeline or a projected timeline of when he'll be back, but Gabe feels good about it," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Tuesday following a 3-0 win against the Los Angeles Kings. "I know it was something that was bothering him. It was getting worse. And he's confident he'll be back in time for the playoffs, if not sooner."
Playing through the injury, Landeskog scored 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists) in 51 games this season. He played 18:42 and had seven shots on goal in a 2-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. The Avalanche captain led them in goals and was fifth in points.
"Surgery went well," Bednar said. "I talked to Gabe today. He's already had a rehab session that went real well. Feels good about what happened in the surgery. Likes the information he got from the doctor."
Colorado is scheduled to play its last game of the regular season on April 29 against the Minnesota Wild; the playoffs are scheduled to begin May 2.
The Avalanche are also without defenseman Samuel Girard, who is out four weeks with a lower-body injury. Girard scored 27 points (five goals, 22 assists) in 56 games this season.
To bolster their defensemen, the Avalanche acquired Josh Manson in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Monday for defenseman prospect Drew Helleson and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Manson debuted with Colorado and played 18:41 on Tuesday.
Colorado also acquired forward Nico Sturm in a trade with the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday for forward Tyson Jost. Sturm scored 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 53 games this season.
Colorado (43-13-5) is first in the NHL standings and plays at the San Jose Sharks on Friday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).