LOS ANGELES — Most veterans don’t look forward to the long training camp that precedes the regular season. They prefer to get to the real stuff as quickly as possible.

It was different for Gabriel Landeskog this season, though.

“For me, personally, I was stoked to be a part of training camp, feel good, and be a part of the grind again,” Landeskog said Tuesday before the Avalanche opened the season against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena (8:30 p.m., ESPN).

The last time Landeskog actually went through a full training camp was in 2021. When you’ve had something taken away from you, even if it’s as tedious as a length training camp, you miss it. And Landeskog did, indeed, miss it.

Still, like everyone in Colorado’s locker room, he’s ready for the real stuff.

“Kind of antsy to get going,” he said. “Now we finally get to play some games, which is exciting.”

Landeskog will begin on a second line also consisting of Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said the team will be in constant communication with the captain as far as how he’s feeling and if he needs time off or to miss games.

So far, so good.

“Right now, he’s feeling healthy and he’s feeling good to go,” Bednar said. “He’s gone through a pretty rigorous training camp and exhibition schedule, still feels good. He’s put himself in top condition and ready to play.”

Playing in the top six on a team equipped to compete for the Stanley Cup, Bednar has high expectations for his captain.

Landeskog doesn’t disagree, although he’s not the type to set specific numbers as a goal.

“I have high expectations of myself,” Landeskog said. “I have high expectations of what I can do as a hockey player and how I can contribute to this team. I think that’s always sort of the goal — just contribute and be a positive factor for our team on a nightly basis, whether that’s on the scoresheet or in other ways.”

Everyone understands an 82-game season is a grind, but he is nearing the point playing with the team is normal. His teammates and coaches are already thinking that way. But it’s tough to oversell to reach this point again.

“He’s gotten a fair bit of attention and media attention for what he did, but I think it’s pretty remarkable that he was able to not only come back, but make the type of impact he did when he came back,” Bednar said. “Not a lot of players have done that. It fascinates me. If I was betting on a guy, it’d be him.”

Game notes

• Gavin Brindley earned a spot in the opening night lineup over Zakhar Bardakov, who will be a healthy scratch. Parker Kelly will center the fourth line.
• Scott Wedgewood will start in net as Mackenzie Blackwood stayed in Denver while recovering from a lower-body injury.