Tre Kronor’s Olympic captain Landeskog thought his career was over

Of all Sweden’s question marks heading into the men’s Olympic hockey tournament, there is one player that teammates in Milan are probably particularly excited to have by their side.

– Being back from his knee injury and the journey he has been on is absolutely fantastic. “That says a lot about his character, his leadership qualities and his desire to be here,” said goalkeeper Jacob Markström.

Baking Gustav Forsling agrees:

– It’s great fun that he can play at this level again. It’s actually the first time I’ve actually met him. It will be great fun to get to know him better.

And then we have Erik Karlsson, who played with the person in question at the 2014 Sochi Olympics:

– Of course it is very nice that he has decided to travel and can be here. Not just for its own sake, which is the most important thing, but also for our own sake.

Pittsburgh’s star quarterback continues:

– I was lucky to play with him at the Olympics and the World Cup. I have known him for a very long time and he is an incredibly good person – one that the Swedish national ice hockey team needs.

Of course we talk about Gabriel Landeskog, team captain in Colorado since 2012 and also honored with a “C” on his chest for three crowns at the Olympic Games.

“It’s obviously something to be appreciated,” the 33-year-old said of his teammates’ warm words.

A serious knee injury kept the forward out of hockey for about three years, and there were certainly times when he feared his career was over.

The fact that this was not the case made him humble and grateful and allowed him to see life from a new perspective, he explains at a press conference in the center of Milan.

– What I was involved in will always stay with me and I am proud of it. When you look back on your career in – hopefully – a few years, it may not be the stats or medals that are so important, but the fact that you overcame one hell of an injury for three years.

– Maybe that’s the most important thing. But hopefully it will compete with the Stanley Cup, the World Cup and hopefully Olympic gold, says Landeskog.

The first week there I was a bit depressed.

The Stockholmer celebrated a comeback in the NHL playoffs last year and continued playing until a few days after the turn of the year. Then the accident happened again when Landeskog drove into the goal post at high speed in a game against Florida.

Colorado didn’t say anything other than that it was a lower-body injury, but an Olympics was in the danger zone, that was clear.

– I was a bit devastated the first week there. I allowed myself to feel a little self-pity for stumbling at the finish line. “Back then I probably didn’t think I would get the chance to come here,” says Landeskog.

– Then I was on the road to recovery pretty quickly. Unlike the knee injury where it could take months to make progress, things got better day by day.

He is reasonably Matcho trained Possibly – but also relieved and happy to be part of the ice hockey party in Milan, the first Olympic tournament with NHL players in twelve years.

The tournament in Sochi ended with silver. This time, Landeskog wants to return home with something he can show off in front of his three children.

-We had friends go through my “hockey memorabilia” in our house a few months ago. When one of them took out the medal, my daughter came and asked, “What is that?”

– She hadn’t seen it because I don’t usually bring it out and brag about it. But if it had been a different color I probably would have shown it. Now they are older and know that their father will compete in the Olympics and hopefully win the gold medal.

Landeskog admits that it will be a big challenge to catch first favorites USA and Canada, but also strong challengers such as Finland and the Czech Republic for first place.

However, he has already won the most important battle.

“I came out the other side and I’m very grateful,” he says.

Read more:

NHL Players Olympic Story: The Swede, who was an American, had to go home

When the hockey legends created poems during the Olympics

Tre Kronor in front – Landeskog captain: “Must take a step forward”