“It’s what makes this game so great — you go out and put somebody in a headlock, and then the next faceoff, somebody says something nice to you. It’s pretty cool,” said the Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, three years after finally returning to the game, to highlight that he’s killed it already! Now Landeskog hasn’t quite made it back to the NHL, but he is back on the ice… for the Colorado Eagles, that is, as part of his conditioning regimen and bid to reclaim his spot on the Avs roster. But if you think he’s taking it lightly, then you’d be dead wrong.

Be it the NHL or AHL, it’s clear that Gabriel Landeskog always brings the heat and intensity. He showed us exactly that in his first game back from that serious knee injury in 2022 as the Eagles beat the Henderson Silver Knights 2-0. So what exactly did Landeskog get up to in his return?

Well, it was the Spittin’ Chiclets’ X post that drew the attention of hockey fans to an incident in the first period where Landeskog can be seen getting involved in a scrum between the two sets of players. Landeskog can be seen landing a couple of hits on a Silver Knights player before eventually getting him into a headlock. This may not be the NHL, but Gabriel Landeskog is obviously locked in and ready after his long hiatus!

When asked about the incident postgame, Landeskog cheekily responded that the headlock “wasn’t necessarily planned when I woke up this morning.”  After all, what else could we expect from the captain returning after 1,020 days if not some real drama? Now Landeskog may not have found himself on the scoresheet, but he did find himself in the sin bin. For a hooking penalty. Because of course he did. So while there were no goals for him, Landeskog nevertheless looked sharp and ready to roll, to the immense pleasure of the crowd, who were all applause.

And for the Eagles, ahem, Avalanche star? Well, he gave them a wave back! “Landy, Landy, Landy,” the crowd serenaded him with cheers when the image of their star popped up on the big screen with him smiling and waving back! But that’s not all. The cherry on the cake was when his Avalanche teammates, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, were also present to cheer for their No. 92 in an Eagles sweater. And for the fans beyond the ones present in the arena, they expressed all their cheering on social media. The emotions came pouring in from fans and viewers across all 32 NHL teams.

NHL fans have been waiting for this moment!

Let’s just admit—the hockey world felt it! The purity of the moment as Landeskog finally hit the ice was something that transcended hockey rivalries. Through many hits, the trials and tribulations of a 3-year-long recovery journey, here he was—Gabriel Landeskog, finally back in the flesh. “Getting back in game shape👊🔥,” wrote a fan, reflecting the hype that all Avs fans must be feeling at seeing their captain back in action.

But they weren’t just watching—they were locked in, completely. Many even had concerns regarding his comeback to the Avs. Hence, one of them said, “So they can’t call him up to the NHL because of his contract?” While his return to the ice may have sparked calls for an NHL comeback, it isn’t a contract issue that’s holding him back; it’s just a matter of fitness. Landeskog has been away for nearly 3 years because of a serious knee injury, and it’s only natural that he needs some time to get back his conditioning and match fitness before he can jump back into an intense NHL game.

Then another fan chimed in with a wholesome reminder. “No matter what team you are a fan of, you have to be happy to see this. 10-year captain of a franchise goes through a 3-year long injury and shows he’s dialed in.” Pure honesty and no rivalry. This one expressed resilience, heart, for the captain who refused to pause even when the odds weren’t in his favor!

In the midst of all the Gabriel Landeskog hype, one fan couldn’t resist taking a shot at Paul Bissonnette. “Biz should be able to give a good insight on what it’s like for an AHL player to get told to sit down by a Stanley Cup winner,” a fan cracked. Yeah, it was probably getting a little too wholesome in the comment section!

But perhaps the most heartwarming reaction of them all was, “Oh Captain, My Captain!!!” After all, it’s not easy to be without your captain in the NHL for 3 years. And to finally have him back? Surely an incomparable feeling. This wasn’t just any old comeback; it was the beginning of something powerful for the Avalanche.