NHL Star Returns After 3 Years Using AI Injury Tech

Gabriel Landeskog hadn't played professional hockey in nearly three years when a pair of smart insoles helped him find his way back to the ice.

The Colorado Avalanche captain suffered a devastating knee injury after winning the Stanley Cup in 2022. After missing an entire season and undergoing cartilage replacement surgery, his road back seemed impossibly long.

Then he discovered Plantiga, a Vancouver company that makes AI-powered sensors that fit inside shoes and skates. The tiny devices capture 400 data points per second, measuring everything from stride patterns to whether someone is favoring an injured leg.

For Landeskog, the technology became a game changer. The sensors tracked his movements during practices, games, training sessions, and even walks with his dog Mila. They detected subtle warning signs in his movement patterns days before pain would hit.

"This detects any red flags before I even feel them," Landeskog said. "It's been super important for me, and a huge help."

Matthew Jordan, Plantiga's vice president of performance science, explains it simply. "What we're trying to detect is the smoke before the fire," he said. The data shows when an athlete is approaching a tipping point that could lead to setbacks lasting days or weeks.

Before using the sensors, Landeskog faced a frustrating cycle. He'd feel good, push hard in training, then suffer a flare-up that forced him to take a week off. He could never build consistent progress.

The AI changed that by removing the guesswork. When the numbers indicated he needed rest, he listened. The system helped him find what the team calls the "Goldilocks zone" where he could train hard without overdoing it.

Why This Inspires

Landeskog's comeback represents more than one player's triumph. Plantiga's technology is now being used across professional sports, including teams in the NBA, NFL, WNBA, and MLB. College programs, elite sprinters, and everyday athletes are also tapping into the power of movement data.

The sensors work like a supercharged fitness tracker, capturing human movement with 20 to 30 times more detail than a smartphone or smartwatch. This laboratory-grade precision helps catch problems that would otherwise go unnoticed until it's too late.

Last season, Landeskog returned for Game 3 of the playoffs against Dallas after 1,032 days away from the NHL. This year, he played 60 regular-season games and scored 14 goals. He's now a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded for perseverance and dedication.

"I'm humbled and honored by it, but I think for me, the ultimate prize I've already won," Landeskog said. That prize was simply getting back on the ice and playing the game he loves.