The Colorado Avalanche will be without captain Gabriel Landeskog on Sunday afternoon when they host the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena, as the veteran winger has been ruled out with a lower-body injury and is considered week-to-week. With Nazem Kadri back in the mix after his trade-deadline return on Friday, Colorado will lean hard on its depth in the matinee.
Team status and immediate fallout
A team spokesman told reporters that Landeskog is out on a week-to-week basis and will not dress for Sunday, according to The Denver Post. The outlet reports that the injury came after Landeskog was hit by a shot in the groin area, and that he later showed trainers a protective cup with a puck-sized dent. The paper also notes that the captain has nine goals and 29 points through 47 games this season, production that Colorado will miss in the short term.
Injury history and cautious approach
Landeskog has been grinding his way back from multiple surgeries on his right knee and even managed to suit up for Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, per NHL.com. Earlier this season, he exited a Jan. 4 game after crashing into the net and was then sidelined with what the Colorado Springs Gazette described as an upper-body injury. That mix of recent setbacks and international duty has the Avalanche understandably careful about putting any firm timeline on their captain’s return.
Kadri steps in to help fill the void
Nazem Kadri, re-acquired at the trade deadline, is expected to be in the lineup on Sunday and brings a proven scoring touch back to Denver. The deal that brought him in is detailed in NHL.com, and CBS Sports noted that Kadri was penciled in to play against Minnesota. His arrival gives coach Jared Bednar a veteran option to plug into the top six while Landeskog is sidelined.
What comes next for Colorado
The Avalanche plan to monitor Landeskog’s status day to day and share updates as the team medical staff continues its evaluations, according to The Denver Post. Colorado’s deadline moves have created some roster flexibility, but losing Landeskog’s all-situations minutes is still a significant short-term hit as the schedule tightens.
Expect further word from the club on Landeskog’s timetable and any additional lineup tweaks before puck drop. We will pass along official updates as the Avalanche releases more information on his status and any roster adjustments.
