Loveland – Taylor Makar has been with the Eagles of Colorado for a week and has an AHL game in career on his CV. This made him the second most experienced player at this level of his line Wednesday in training.
The skating next to Makar was the avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog, who joined the Eagles during an conditioning assignment. He could play in his first game since the Stanley 2022 Cup final this weekend when the Eagles welcome Henderson Silver Knights to Blue Arena.
It would also be his first AHL career competition because he went directly to the NHL after being the choice n ° 2 of the NHL 2011 draft.
“It was quite incredible,” said Makar, the younger brother’s younger brother of the AVS, Makar Cale. “I jumped there and I didn’t really know the lines or anything. I saw it in a blue jersey with me and Oskar (Olausson). It was pretty cool to see, and it was a really fun experience. ”
The last moment of Landeskog on the ice with the avalanche came when the assistant commissioner of the NHL, Bill Daly, gave him the Stanley Cup in 2022. It has been more than 1000 days since.
The captain of the AVS did four procedures on his right knee, the most recent being the replacement of the knee ligament in May 2023. No player had this procedure and returned to the NHL action, but Lonzo Ball did it in March 2023 and returned to play for the Chicago Bulls this season.
Landeskog has regularly been on the ice with the avalanche in recent weeks. He also practiced with the AVS last season during the playoffs.
“It seems to me that it is getting closer. It’s different this time,” said AVS coach Jared Bednar during his weekly coach’s weekly show on Wednesday morning. “He has made progress over the years, but he never got to this point. I would say that I am excited for him. I can see the excitement in him, and that makes me excite.
“Everyone makes him press him to come back. It was a long journey for him. The main thing is that everyone wants to see him play, and I think he can come back and help our team. ”
It was his second time with the Eagles – Landeskog participated in a morning skate last weekend while the AV were on the road.
“I am not here to judge a part of his trip or part of his progress, but he jumped directly in practice, did all the exercises, worked hard,” said Eagles coach Aaron Schneekloth. “Looked like a hockey player.”
Since Landeskog is still in the long -term injured reserve with the avalanche, this packaging assignment can be for a maximum of six days or three games, according to the NHL ABC. He does not count against the list of 23 men of AVS and the situation of the club’s salary ceiling remains unchanged.
The AVS could petition the NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, for an extension if they consider that it is necessary. A team spokesman said Landeskog would train on Wednesday, and that there could be an update on his next step the next day or two.
The Eagles play on Friday and Saturday at home, then they have three other regular season games on the road before the start of the Calder Cup qualifiers.
“I am sure I will have a direction if it comes down to that, if he enters a game with us,” said Schneekloth. “I am sure I will have a direction on what he wants and what he thinks he needs. But today it was a complete practice, and he participated, and he looked great.
“We treat him as if he were part of our team. We will train him. We will be part for him for so long. It is part of our responsibility. It is no different from a young man or a prospect or a signature of a free agent to come. We will give him the work he needs to succeed, and we will do the same with Gabe.”
There are four players on the list of Eagles who spent time with Landeskog when they played in previous seasons for the avalanche, including the captain of the Jayson Megna team. Several of the Eagles also spent time in Denver with the NHL club this season and Landeskog was used to the team’s facilities.
“Certainly a little strange. I did not expect to see him here, that’s for sure,” said Megna. “But I think that overall, just super happy for him and his recovery journey. It seems that he is getting closer.
“You can’t say enough about Gabe enough and what he did and meant for the organization in total. His leadership, the way he works every day and how he is as a human being. The way he treats guys and staff, coaches, he is just a first -rate human being, obviously a wonderful hockey player. To bring him back to any capacity.”
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