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Head coach Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche is on the bench during the second period game against the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena March 9, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
It’s true that Gabriel Landescog wants to return to the ice with his Colorado teammates with all his heart and soul, but AV puts the captain’s long-term health at risk in his pursuit of the championship. There are 56 million reasons why you shouldn’t expose yourself. Feels like a long shot.
In a season as frustrating for the reigning NHL champion, whose condition is as precarious as Landskog’s chronic knee injury, it would be silly for the 30-year-old forward to try to lift the cup again. .
Don’t do it, Gabe. You gritted your teeth and continued fighting without complaint to win a championship almost nine months ago. That injured knee has been barking at you ever since.
Was the everlasting brilliance of the championship ring worth the pain? Absolutely.
But with six seasons left on his $56 million deal, it would be daunting for Landeskog to come back a shift before his long-suffering knee was 100% healed, and returning to full health would be daunting. , you can become Captain Gabe without fear of setting up shop. Throw your fists in the heat of the goalie’s kitchen or at an opponent in trouble.
After partying all summer long, saying goodbye to Nazem Kadri and showing too many smiles from the team photo the night Colorado won the Cup in Florida, these AV are too many games I’ve been sleepwalking. On Thursday night, Ball witnessed his 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings at his arena.
Do these Avs have the passion and deep desire needed to win another cup?
Avs coach Jared Bednar said on Thursday: “How do we get there? We must want it. We must want it more than we do now.”
After thrashing around the bush hoping for the best result since Landescog underwent surgery the night before this season, Bednar admitted he had doubts about whether Randy would be able to contribute, arguing that Randy would be the team’s champion. ship defense.
“Are you curious? Yeah,” Bednar said Wednesday. “I mean, he hasn’t played all year. Do you think he can easily get out of here and get back in shape? Yeah, I mean he’s got a job. So only time will tell.” You just don’t know.”
Perhaps the uncertainty created by Landescogg’s uncertain circumstances helps explain why Avalanche didn’t make a truly significant move at the trade deadline. It would have been a risky gamble to double down and sacrifice future fortunes for back-to-back wins without absolute confidence in Landy’s return after this.
As we continue to wait for our championship hangover to subside, it’s getting late for these AVs to wake up and get moving.
One reason for optimism? Finishing as the No. 1 seed in the West is still not entirely out of the question. His 19-game regular for the rest of Colorado’s eight games during his season looks as appealing as an empty net beckoning Nathan McKinnon with the puck on his stick.
Even if Avs’ hockey play isn’t spectacular in eight games against the bottom four teams in the West (Arizona, Anaheim, San Jose and Chicago), they should still have a chance to finish 100+ points in the conference. . It probably doesn’t take more than 104 to land the top seed in the conference.
We believe the defending champions refuse to surrender without a fight, but it feels like a season when Boston, Carolina, or any other beast from the East lifts the cup.
Like it or not, Landeskog and these capable AVs will probably have to wait until next year.
Rather than seeing him valiantly jump over boards with a sore knee this spring, we really hope Randy is healthy and doing the hard work of building a dynasty for years to come.
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