Avs lose their captain for the foreseeable future; surgery is required

According to The Athletic's Peter Baugh, via head coach Jared Bednar, the issue is not new. It's something that Landeskog has been playing through. Undergoing surgery now could have been what the team's medical staff had recommended to ensure that he's healthy in time for the playoffs.

Landeskog is a heart and soul player for the Avs, and there's no doubt that his presence on the ice and in the locker room will be missed while he's out. But it pales in comparison to what the Avalanche would be forced to endure without him in the lineup when the games really start to matter in May.

The 29-year-old is having a spectacular season for the Avs in 2021-22, amassing 30 goals and 59 points in just 51 games thus far. He's a player that does it all for Jared Bednar's crew. He forechecks, backchecks, hits, scores, sets up plays and he'll drop the gloves without hesitation if the situation calls for it.

At this point, Landeskog should be back before the end of the season. It sounds like the Avs are anticipating him back at some point in April, just in time to get a bit of a primer for the postseason.