Gabriel Landeskog, the heart and soul of the Colorado Avalanche, lay on the ice after a collision that looked as violent as it was awkward. For a fanbase that has waited nearly three years to see him don the burgundy and blue again, the sight was nothing short of a nightmare.

The 33-year-old winger, who had finally returned this season after a grueling odyssey of knee surgeries and rehabilitation, crashed into the goalpost.

A Crash, A Scare, and A Sigh of Relief

The incident occurred late in the second period of Colorado’s 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. Gabriel Landeskog, driving the net with the kind of reckless abandon that has defined his career, caught an edge. He lost his footing and slid uncontrollably, his torso absorbing the brunt of the impact against the iron post.

“It looked horrible,” teammate Nathan MacKinnon said postgame, his voice tinged with the kind of raw emotion you only hear from players who have been in the trenches together for over a decade. “Devastating to see a guy like that hurt like that because he’s so tough. But the one bright side, maybe, is it’s not his knee.”

Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed the upper-body nature of the injury, stating simply, “He’s going to miss some time for sure.” It was a vague update, but in the world of hockey injuries, “upper body” is often code for “we’re dodging a bullet, but it’s still going to hurt.”

The Timeline: What We Know

According to reports from The Denver Post, Landeskog has already flown back to Denver to begin rehabilitation. The fact that he traveled immediately suggests the team isn’t wasting a second. While official timelines are still under wraps pending further evaluation, rib injuries are notoriously tricky. A bruised rib might cost a player a week or two of agonizing breaths; a fracture can sideline them for six to eight weeks.

If it is indeed a fracture, as speculated by teammates in the locker room, the timeline for a return could push into late February or early March. For a team sitting comfortably at 31-3-7, there is no need to rush. The Avalanche have the luxury of patience, a rare commodity in the NHL. They can afford to let Gabriel Landeskog heal fully, ensuring he is ready for the grind of the postseason.

The Human Element

Gabriel Landeskog spent over 1,000 days wondering if he would ever play professional hockey again. He underwent a cartilage transplant, a fairly rare procedure.

To see Gabriel Landeskog go down again, even if it’s “just” a rib injury, is a cruel twist of fate. It’s a reminder of the fragility of the sport and the immense physical toll it takes