He’s back.

Following a successful, two-game conditioning assignment with the AHL Colorado Eagles, Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog has rejoined the team in preparation for their first-round Stanley Cup playoff matchup against Central Division rival Dallas.

Landeskog, 32, played in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday in Loveland, Colo., scoring a power-play goal in Saturday’s 4-3, shootout victory over the Henderson Golden Knights. As explained in my story Saturday, the Avalanche had planned to activate their longtime captain after his second of three potential games with the Eagles, assuming he (and they) felt good about his health and play. Consider both boxes checked, and now, after nearly three years of recovery following knee cartilage replacement surgery, the Avalanche will have Landeskog back in the fold for a highly anticipated playoff run.

The Avalanche overhauled their roster over the course of the season through multiple trades that brought in goaltenders Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, as well as forwards Martin Nečas, Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, Jack Drury, and Jimmy Vesey, and defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Erik Johnson. Now, they’ll add their second-highest paid player (at $7 million), as well – the league’s salary cap limits don’t apply during the postseason, allowing the Avalanche to add Landeskog without concerns over their payroll.

Landeskog has been the Avalanche’s captain since March of 2016, and his impact in that role has been so substantial that his teammates refused to choose anyone as interim captain during his lengthy recovery. Landeskog, with 571 regular-season points in his career, ranks sixth in Avalanche history in scoring, and his 67 playoff points (in only 69 playoff games) ranks seventh. Adding a player of his caliber on the ice, as well as off of it, should be a boon for an Avalanche team that’s been flying high for months.

The Avalanche should be well-rested by this weekend’s Game 1 in Dallas – the Stars won’t wrap their regular-season up until Wednesday night against Nashville, and they’re mired in the midst of a six-game losing streak, as well. While the Stars, and former Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen, try to get their bearings this week, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar can take the time to determine where Landeskog fits best.

At this stage, expect that to be on the third line, where Bednar can limit Landeskog’s shifts if needed. With only Josh Manson listed on the team’s injury report with anything considered worse than “day-to-day,” the Avalanche are now as healthy as they’ve been all season, playing as well as they have all season – and now, they’re getting their captain back.

The last time Landeskog was on the ice for the Avalanche, he took the Stanley Cup from commissioner Gary Bettman; hoisting it over his head as he brought a third Cup championship back to Colorado. This weekend, he and his Avalanche teammates will begin their quest for a fourth… together again, at last.