CENTENNIAL, Colo — On Tuesday morning, the Colorado Avalanche made the biggest announcement of the season. It may be the biggest announcement of the last three years. Gabriel Landeskog’s conditioning loan has been “terminated” and he will join the Avalanche.

Over this past weekend, Landeskog played two games for the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League. He averaged about 15 minutes of ice time per night and had two points. Landeskog assisted John Ludvig’s goal; three minutes later, he deflected Calle Rosen’s shot, tying the game.

“It was awesome,” Landeskog said on Friday night after the Eagles game. “I mean, that’s I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, and, envisioning this, and envisioning being in a competitive hockey game again. Obviously, there were times where I didn’t know if that was ever going to happen, so it felt great being in the battle again. On the bench, in the room, on the ice, you know all the nuances of a hockey game, really fun being back.”

Landeskog went 1,020 days without playing in a hockey game and played the entire week with the week with the Eagles. That included practices and two games. He will now report to the Avalanche for the rest of the regular season, still on the long-term injured reserve, and practice with the Avalanche.

The Avalanche now hope to activate Landeskog at the end of the regular season after April 17.

Practice report

On Tuesday morning, Landeskog was on the ice at Family Sports Center for an optional skate. He took part in the entire practice, taking reps with Jonathan Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon. Most of the team was out on the ice except for Erik Johnson, who played in both games over the weekend.

Josh Manson also skated with the group, looking much improved with his lower-body injury. MacKenzie Blackwood was taking the role of the backup goalie, but the Avalanche are off for a week. So read little into it.

Rumors say the playoffs will start on Saturday the 19th with the Avalanche getting the earlier game in the day.

There is a possibility that Landeskog could be part of the roster come Saturday. Many believe that he will start on the third line and, as he gets more comfortable, will work his way up the lineup.