DENVER — Gabriel Landeskog is not expected to be ready for the start of the season for the Colorado Avalanche because of a lower-body injury.
Landeskog missed the final 23 games of the 2021-22 regular season after he had knee surgery on March 14. He returned for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and had 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 20 games, helping Colorado win the Stanley Cup. The 29-year-old forward, who is Avalanche captain, was frequently absent from morning skates during the playoffs in an effort to manage his recovery.
“‘Landy’ is dealing with an injury from last season, lower body, and he’s not ready to go,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said Thursday. “We don’t have a timetable yet for putting him on the ice. He won’t skate anytime soon.”
Bednar said Landeskog’s recovery could last into the regular season. The Avalanche played their first game Oct. 12 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Landeskog had 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists) in 51 regular-season games last season.
Valery Nichushkin, who signed an eight-year contract July 11, is also not participating in on-ice activities at training camp because of a lower-body injury. Nichushkin had 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) in 62 regular-season games and 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in 20 playoff games.
“‘Val’ is kind of on the same deal,” Bednar said. “He’s going to skate tomorrow on his own, and we’ll just kind of see how the next week or so goes before we make decisions on [preseason games]”
Darren Helm, who is also out with a lower-body injury, skated on his own in a no-contact jersey Thursday. Bednar said the 35-year-old forward is not close to joining the main group at training camp.
“He’s working back to being ready. No timetable on him just yet,” Bednar said of Helm. “I don’t know if he’ll get it [in a preseason game] or not. We’ll see how the next week or so goes.”
Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson missed the start of training camp to be with his wife for the birth of their child.
.