Landeskog has not played a single NHL game since taking a blow to the ribs in a collision on January 4.
But the 33-year-old Colorado star has returned from a long hiatus. When he made his comeback last spring, he had been out for almost three years with a serious knee injury.
And then another injury ended his hunt for Olympic gold.
"At first I didn't think I would have a chance to come here. But then I got on the road to recovery and it got better every day. It's great that it worked out and it was fun to call Sam (head coach Hallam) and Josef Boumedienne (general manager) two weeks ago," he says.
Needed in the national team
Landeskog is praised by his teammates and the team management for his comeback, especially from the knee injury.
He is a driving force, a leader. Of course it's very nice that he has overcome this. I've played with him at the Olympics (2014) and the World Cup and have known him for a long time. He is a good person and a player the national team needs, says Erik Karlsson, the defenceman.
National team captain Sam Hallam is not concerned that Landeskog has not played a match in a month.
He has been able to train calmly and hasn't been stressed at all. So that's very, very good. I'm happy that "Gabbe" is here and running at full speed, says Hallam.
“A huge honor”
Gabriel Landeskog is the team captain for Tre Kronor in Milan with Karlsson and Victor Hedman as assistants.
"It's obviously a huge honor. Wearing a C on my chest isn't something I think about much and it doesn't change me. I'm comfortable in the role, but we're a group that could have carried it. Leadership in the locker room doesn't just fall on one player, but on a bunch of players," says Landeskog, who is also the captain of Colorado.
Landeskog and his national team teammates had been in Milan for a day when they met journalists at Sweden Arena, Sweden's official fan zone, in Milan on Monday morning.
He was asked about the beds in the Olympic Village, which some people have commented on.
The beds are actually comfortable. I'm sure a few people were awake in the middle of the night - they had the Super Bowl to watch anyway - but I slept really well.
Tre Kronor's Olympic debut will be on Wednesday evening against Italy.
The Tre Kronor men's Olympic group-stage schedule and playoff dates.
11/2: Sweden–Italy (21.10).
13/2: Finland–Sweden (12.10).
14/2: Sweden–Slovakia (12.10).
17/2: Playoff to quarter-finals (4 matches).
18/2: Quarter-finals.
20/2: Semi-final.
21/2: Bronze match.
22/2: Finals.
