The Colorado Avalanche and injuries. An unfortunate partnership that has impacted each of the three seasons since the team won the Stanley Cup back in 2022, most notably with captain Gabriel Landeskog. While the Avs were able to mostly overcome the injury woes for the playoffs this past season, they weren’t able to capitalize on the opportunity as they lost to the Dallas Stars in the first round.
In June, the team announced that winger Logan O’Connor underwent a second hip surgery, an operation that was schedule to keep him out of game action for 5-6 months, which sets his timeline for a return sometime around the holidays. There’s been some chatter that he could return earlier than expected, but nothing official.
Another injury-related question mark that will likely never go away in the near future is that status of Landeskog. He looked excellent in the playoffs after he made his improbable return to the ice just in time to help his team when it mattered most, but that was only a five-game stretch (over the span of 11 days). The 2025-26 regular season will be the real test to see just how much his body has left in the tank. Will he have to load manage and take some games off? Will he be on a minutes restriction? There are a handful of ways that head coach Jared Bednar and the rest of the Avalanche organization can go about managing their captain’s body.
Some of the players on the team have been participating in some informal skates this week to get some reps under their belts, and in a good sign to Avalanche fans, both Landeskog and O’Connor have been back on the ice. According to Brennan Vogt of Mile High Sports, “It has been all things good for Landeskog” while O’Connor is at least back on the ice.
So far, Landeskog looks like he is doing great with his crossovers. There is no hesitation to push off in the right leg. The Captain is back. #Avs #GoAvsGo @HockeyMtnHighCO pic.twitter.com/fS4g0PmNqa
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) August 20, 2025
This was sent to me by a friend, but Logan O’Connor is skating today. This will mark the first time that we have seen him skate in Colorado after his hip surgery postseason. pic.twitter.com/HD8jbkN8S7
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) August 19, 2025
These are two very good signs ahead of the season.
For the Avalanche, training camp is now under a month away as the team gears up for arguably the most important season since that magical 2021-22 campaign when the franchise brought home Lord Stanley for a third time. Camp gets underway from Family Sports Center on Thursday, Sept. 18, while the first preseason action for the burgundy and blue will come in the form of two split-squad games against the Utah Mammoth on Sunday, Sept. 21. One game will be at 2:30 p.m. at Magness Arena in Denver while the second will be at 6:30 p.m. at Ball Arena.
