Logan O’Connor’s Return To Game Action And Lessons From Gabe Landeskog

Logan O’Connor’s return to the Avalanche lineup after multiple hip surgeries reveals a story of resilience, sacrifice, and the lessons he drew from teammate and captain Gabe Landeskog during an extended recovery.

Video Transcript

At home to three and ten in their last three.

Like, h- how does that happen?

Is there anything to patterns like that, or is it just- No, I don’t think so.

I think, I mean, this time of year, everyone’s playing strong basketball.

You know, we’re playing an Owen-a-pick team back to back times.

you know, that has its own challenges with trying to beat a team twice in a row who’s trying to make an effort to get into the playoffs.

everyone’s games are ramping up at this time to try and either for positioning or get in playoffs or, you know, even teams that are out of playoffs, new players coming in and trying to make an impact.

So, it’s on us to respond and continue to focus our details in the right way.

Well, see, I know you probably, Matt talked about this, so just how are you feeling?

You know, you jumped right back into it, and then, you know, Jared was saying it feels like you haven’t really missed a beat.

Yeah.

Game to game has felt better, for sure.

I think the first game in pit, details felt off, timing felt off, just sort of going through the routes is harder when I didn’t, you know, really have any practice time leading into it.

So, like, the intensity and the battles was definitely something that I had to adjust to.

But, as every game has gone on and as, as I’ve gotten in more games, feel more and more comfortable, you know, using my feet more.

feel like I’m on top of pucks a little more, whereas the first game maybe a little more tentative and thinking, and then, you know, the feet are behind, and then you’re not, you know, making as many plays as you can or disrupting as many plays as you can.

so it’s just on me.

I mean, my game really doesn’t change despite being out as long as I’ve been.

It’s all about the details, the process, the work ethic.

those are all things within my control, and it’s on me day to day to, ramp things up here as quick as I can with limited amount of games left, obviously.

Did they, did they discuss maybe conditioning while you were just having missed the whole season, or did they give you that option?

Or were you just like, “I just wanna be thrown into it”?

Yeah, it was discussed.

the plan actually was at s- you know, some point to go down there and, plans change.

once the race with Dallas there was, was pretty tight, I think there was a little bit more urgency to, to get me in games here right away, which had to sacrifice the practice time in order to do so just because we don’t practice here anymore.

so it was on me to do what I could in pre-game skates, even though it’s pretty flow and go and, and pretty easy, but, you know, do, do it with a purpose for me and then work on stuff with our skills coach, Popovich, to, to try and get involved as quickly as I could and get up to game speed without actually doing any game type reps or anything like that.

Did you have any concerns not having any rehab games g- giving your long, layoff?

Yeah, I think there’s, there was always, maybe a little bit more nerves going into it for that reason, just because I hadn’t battled, I hadn’t done a drill with five on five.

So, like I said before, it– my game doesn’t change despite how long I’ve had off.

It’s all about the work ethic and, playing to my process that, you know, gives my line and my, the team success.

so it’s just on me to, and it’s on me to be as detailed as I can with the, the lack of reps I’ve gotten so far and just try and really focus and work on video, work on skill stuff, make sure my conditioning’s in the best place to, make an impact for the team.

Five hundred points- Logan, what was- Five hundred Go ahead, go ahead.

What was this journey like for you?

I mean, watching from the sidelines, did you maybe lean on a guy like Gabe to get you through things mentally?

For sure.

Landy was awesome.

I mean, everyone– no one can really understand what a guy’s going through, when it gets that long.

A guy like Landy obviously knows better than anyone.

so having him to lean on, voice frustrations, concerns, just to bounce things off of and has, have his support was, was great.

You know, throughout the time, he, he made sure even when the team was on the road, dealing with being the captain of the team, excuse me, going through all that to, to still check in and call me and, you know, see where my head was at and provide support.

So having someone to, who truly understands what that process was like was definitely helpful along the way.

What was the biggest piece of advice he gave you through all that?

Just don’t look too far ahead, day by day, try and find different things to motivate you.

I think, you know, being a new father, that’s a, you know, something that could, you know, take my mind off of what was happening professionally and focus on my family and, trying to not lose sight of w- what’s important.

And then, you know, just look at the support that the team’s had, being fortunate to be on such a great team, knowing that I’d come back at some point.

work the process every day and use different forms of motivation to, to sort of make every day fresh.

Awesome.

So I’m glad I- Thank you so much.

Thanks, guys

Logan O’Connor’s Return To Game Action And Lessons From Gabe Landeskog

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