Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog will miss several weeks due to an upper-body injury, casting uncertainty on his participation in the upcoming Winter Olympics for Sweden. The injury occurred during a game against the Florida Panthers, and his return timeline is unclear, just as Sweden prepares for their Olympic debut in 2026.
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 with Landeskog scoring his first goal in over 1,300 days, while Wedgewood delivered an outstanding performance in goal. However, Nichushkin left the game with a lower-body injury, leaving his status uncertain.
Gabe Landeskog, despite a long absence from regular play and recent demotion, demonstrated leadership and impact in a game against Tampa Bay Lightning by engaging physically and contributing significantly, reaffirming his role as captain of the Colorado Avalanche.
The NHL season begins with a tripleheader on ESPN, featuring the defending champion Florida Panthers starting their title defense without key players Barkov and Tkachuk, Mike Sullivan coaching the Rangers against his former team the Penguins, Landeskog returning for the Avalanche, and Kopitar playing his final season with the Kings.