Landeskog Named Captain as He Returns to Olympic ice After Injury

Gabriel Landeskog, the Colorado Avalanche captain, has been named captain of the Swedish Olympic team as he makes his return to competition after a recent injury.His participation in the Olympics was uncertain until recently, but he arrived in Milan with his teammates and is prepared to lead the team.

Landeskog sustained an upper-body injury in a game against the Florida Panthers in early January, forcing him off the ice after just six minutes of play. He later missed 13 NHL games and enters the Olympic tournament without recent match experience.

“I try to get into it as quickly as possible,” Landeskog stated. “It helps that it’s an Olympic tournament and that the stakes are as high as they are, and that it’s not a series fluke that I’m going into.”

previous Olympic and International Success

This Olympic appearance marks Landeskog’s second, having previously won a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Games. His career has faced setbacks, including a knee injury that sidelined him for three seasons following the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory.

Beyond his Olympic achievements, Landeskog has also secured two gold medals with Sweden at the World Championships, adding to his extraordinary international resume. The 33-year-old’s experience and leadership will be crucial as Sweden aims for gold in Milan.