Avs' Landeskog will miss 2023-24
DENVER — Gabriel Landeskog may have sacrificed his injured right knee to hoist the Stanley Cup for the Colorado Avalanche. Now, he’s willing to take an extreme step to try to play hockey again.
Landeskog is set to undergo cartilage replacement surgery Wednesday, sidelining him for a second consecutive full NHL season and giving the longtime captain an uncertain path back. He has not contemplated retirement and is confident he’ll be able to resume his career after a third procedure on the knee in roughly 14 months.
“I just have to do what’s right for my health and really, ultimately, do what I can so I’m able to go out there and play with the guys and continue chasing more Stanley Cups,” Landeskog said on a Zoom call Tuesday. “Is it going to be a long road? Yeah. But motivating factors are plenty.”
The 30-year-old Swede has not played since the Cup clincher at Tampa Bay on June 26, the end of the franchise’s third title run that he was a big part of with 22 points in 20 games. That masterful performance came after the first operation in March and was followed by another in October.
Landeskog was given the option of this surgery last fall but thought something less invasive could get him back on the ice. Initially projected to miss 12 weeks, he did not play all season and in April was ruled out for the playoffs.
ESPN’s Anderson apologizes for mocking Whitecloud's name
ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor John Anderson apologized to Zach Whitecloud, a First Nation member in Canada, on Tuesday after comparing the Vegas Golden Knights defenseman’s last name to toilet paper the previous night. Whitecloud told reporters in Edmonton, Alberta, that he spoke with Anderson on Tuesday morning.
“I think it was an attempt at humor that came out as being obviously insensitive, and he acknowledges that,” Whitecloud said. “He understands that it was wrong to say. I wanted to make sure he knew that I accepted his apology. People make mistakes, and this is a scenario where not just John but everyone can learn from and move forward in a positive direction and try to be better for.”
Whitecloud is the first member of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to play in the NHL.
“This is totally on me and I sincerely apologize to Zach, the Golden Knights, their fans and everyone else for what I said,” Anderson said in a statement. “It’s my job to be prepared and know the backgrounds of the players and I