{"id":396159,"date":"2026-01-08T23:51:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T23:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/396159\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T23:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T23:51:09","slug":"an-avalanche-of-injury-updates-will-landeskog-play-in-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/396159\/","title":{"rendered":"An Avalanche of Injury Updates: Will Landeskog Play in Olympics?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Avalanche\u2019s injury list has grown immensely over the past week or so. What started with only Logan O\u2019Connor has extended to Mackenzie Blackwood, Joel Kiviranta, Devon Toews, and Gabe Landeskog. Gavin Brindley has also missed time and returned over this stretch.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Connor hasn\u2019t played all year. He was close to returning from offseason hip surgery back in November before a new injury kept him out. His status is still unknown.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing on Logan. Still sorting that out,\u201d head coach Jared Bednar said on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Blackwood last played on Dec. 31 before the Avalanche went out on the road. Kiviranta hasn\u2019t dressed since Dec. 29.<\/p>\n

Both Toews and Landeskog sustained upper-body injuries on the road trip. Toews has missed the last two games, and Landeskog was injured in Florida and missed the game in Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

\u201cGabe is gonna miss weeks. There\u2019s not much to know there, except he\u2019s sore, and he\u2019s going to miss some time, and then eventually start working his way back,\u201d Bednar said. \u201cSo we\u2019re going to be without him for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bednar continued: \u201cToews is week to week. He\u2019s not on the ice yet, he needs some rest and rehab before he progresses to getting on the ice. Kiviranta is the exact same. And Blackwood is on the ice. I would had him at week to week as well, but now he\u2019s missed a week already, and he\u2019s back on the ice, working through it. So I don\u2019t have an exact timeline. We\u2019ll see how this week goes. Hopefully, by the end of the week, he\u2019s ready to go for next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Landeskog and Toews are the most pressing injuries. For multiple reasons.<\/p>\n

For one thing, they both play significant roles. When you add in Blackwood, the Avs are ultimately missing three of their six starters from the top line, No.1 defense pairing, and starting goalie. Those are big shoes to fill in terms of ice time and importance to Colorado\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

But what makes it even more fascinating for those two, specifically, as well as Kiviranta, is their participation in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. Landeskog was named as one of Team Sweden\u2019s original six picks over the summer. Toews was named to Team Canada\u2019s roster on New Year\u2019s Eve, as expected. But somewhat surprisingly, Kiviranta made Team Finland, alongside teammate Artturi Lehkonen.<\/p>\n

Toews and Kiviranta both sound like they should be good to partake in the tournament, which opens in 34 days.<\/p>\n

Bednar made it clear that the Avalanche will not get in the way of any of them. If the player is feeling good enough to play for his country, he\u2019ll play. If that\u2019s what the player decides is best.<\/p>\n

\u201c100% player decision. We talked about this the other day, like, we want them to go. If it\u2019s something they want, it\u2019s something I want, it\u2019s something our team wants,\u201d Bednar said. \u201cIt\u2019s not going to be an issue for Taser. Like, I expect him back. He\u2019s week-to-week, and call that two weeks. Like he\u2019s got a little bit of a runway. Kiviranta, the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for Landeskog, his status for the Olympics will be interesting to follow. It\u2019s good news that there is a chance he\u2019ll be back before then and be able to represent Team Sweden. But it still isn\u2019t clear if that will be the case.<\/p>\n

Although, worth noting that Bednar saying Landeskog is sore is a positive sign. Soreness isn\u2019t usually a word you use to describe a major bone break or ligament tear.<\/p>\n

\u201cGabe is going to be interesting. He\u2019s a little bit more serious of an injury. He\u2019s missed some time, but I\u2019m really hoping for him that he\u2019s able to get back and get playing, and now that will 100% be his decision,\u201d Bednar said. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to stand in their way. I know that can make you nervous a little bit, guys going in that have some injuries, and rest would do them good. Yeah, I get it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this is the Olympics, and it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some of these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n


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