Landeskog needs to bring offense, leadership in return to struggling Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche finally have the captain back.

Gabriel Landeskog says he's been cleared to play Saturday in Montreal after missing 10 games with an injury that remains somewhat undefined.

"We'll keep it as lower body," Landeskog said after morning skate, per Mike Chambers of the Denver Post. "Bottom line is it feels good now."

The 24-year-old had recorded four goals and four assists in 15 games prior to the injury, putting him on pace for only 38 points, well down from his career average of 57 per every 82 games played.

Ideally, fresh legs will help him return to form, and he'll be given ample opportunity to perform upon being deployed on the second line to start the game.

Landeskog's return comes not a moment too soon for an Avalanche team currently tied for last place in the NHL standings with 21 points through 25 games. Even after a 4-2 win over Boston on Thursday, the team's minus-19 goal differential is 29th among the league's 30 teams.

Team president and general manager Joe Sakic has professed faith in the team's largely youthful core, made up of Landeskog, Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon, Tyson Barrie, Erik Johnson, and Semyon Varlamov.

For that to be maintained, the Avalanche can't write this season off and are trying instead to get back up the hill, even if the eight-point difference between their place in the standings and a wild-card spot seems too big to overcome.

If Colorado has any chance of redeeming its season, Landeskog will need to step up both on and off the ice as team captain.