Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload

DENVER (AP) — Gabriel Landeskog wears the small sensors in the insoles of his skates for practices and games. He wears them in his sneakers when he's training and, maybe most handy of all, while taking his dog for a walk.

Those spins around the block and ice record all of his biomechanical measurements. The numbers provided a blueprint in helping the Colorado Avalanche captain resume his career after a three-year gap caused by a complicated knee injury. Now, they keep him at his gritty, goal-scoring best.

The collected data ranges from movement patterns to his asymmetry and whether he’s favoring his surgically repaired right knee. It calculates in-game/in-practice workloads, stride characteristics and the mechanics of how his feet interact with various surfaces — ground or ice.

Basically, the details paint a picture to inform Landeskog when he's reaching maximum capacity and needs a break. That way, it prevents him from reaching overexertion levels in training that might set him back for days, possibly even weeks.

“This detects any red flags before I even feel them,” said Landeskog, whose team trails Vegas 3-0 in a Western Conference Final in which he has two of the Avalanche's six goals. “It’s been super important for me, and a huge help.”

The assist goes to Plantiga, an AI-driven movement platform that helps athletes stay on top of their game and prevent injuries. The company's cutting-edge technology is being utilized by players and teams in the NBA, NFL, WNBA and MLB, along with colleges, elite sprinters, weekend warriors and, of course, NHL players such as Landeskog.

"What we’re trying to detect is the smoke before the fire,” explained Matthew Jordan, the vice president of performance science at Plantiga as well as an associate professor, faculty of kinesiology/sport medicine center, at the University of Calgary. “Imagine you’re at the point where your knee is just at the cusp of the next day it’s going to be like, `My knee’s killing me. I can hardly walk.’ We can see in the data before you reach that tipping point.”

Landeskog’s knee issues began after a skate blade cut his right knee during the 2020 playoffs in the Edmonton bubble. He worked his way through it and helped the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title in 2022 by beating Tampa Bay.

That Cup clincher, though, was his last game for a while. After missing a full season, Landeskog underwent cartilage replacement surgery on May 10, 2023.

In the spring of 2024, Landeskog was introduced to Plantiga, the Vancouver-based human analytics company founded by Quin Sandler and his late father, Norman McKay. They wanted to create a way to monitor the movement of athletes with wearable in-shoe technology.

Landeskog reached out to the Plantiga team through strength and conditioning coach Marcin Goszczynski. The 33-year-old Landeskog met with Jordan at a game when the Avalanche were playing in Calgary.

“We discussed his injury and his frustration with the process,” Jordan recounted. “You have to remember at this point the tunnel was dark and long — there was no light ... we were miles from the end of the tunnel.”

Jordan connected Landeskog with a Canadian ski racer who went through a similar injury.

“It was a relief for Gabe to know that another athlete out there had been able to conquer this injury," Jordan said. "Has among the best mindsets, and he is 100% resilient and gritty to the core.”

By utilizing “Norman,” the movement intelligence layer named after Sandler's father, potential changes in Landeskog's biomechanics were flagged before they could escalate.

“We’re trying to put really good data (together) that him and his trainer will use,” Sandler said. “There’s this fine Goldilocks zone that we help him stay in, and honestly he’s been killing it.”

Landeskog returned last season for Game 3 of the playoffs against Dallas, which was his first NHL contest in some 1,032 days. His comeback continued this season, when he had 14 goals and 21 assists over 60 regular-season games.

Throughout the season, Jordan tunes in to watch Landeskog’s strides on the ice. He sometimes notes instances he wants to examine further simply because the numbers may be outside the Swedish forward's normal range.

“Essentially, put out the ‘smoke’ before it turns into a ‘fire,’” Jordan explained. “In an athlete’s world, a fire can mean a new injury, a reinjury to the tissue, a loss of performance or a setback in rehab.”

This application is similar to the Oura Ring, which constantly collects health and wellness metrics. Plantiga, though, tracks human movement through a laboratory-grade inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor that captures 400 data points per second.

Translation: An athlete’s movement can be captured with 20-to-30 times more granularity than a smart phone or watch.

“A supercharged human movement measuring device,” Jordan said.

One way to get a baseline for Landeskog’s gait and biomechanics was through walking. For that, an assist goes to his dogs, the late Zoey and now Mila, who were eager participants on those data-collecting excursions.

“We can see subtle things in your walk patterns well before it manifests as something very clinical or significant,” Jordan said.

What the data did for Landeskog was take the guesswork out of his training program.

“He’d get on the ice and be like, ‘Oh, I feel good today.' Jordan said. “It’s like, ‘I think I’m just going to go hard. I feel like my knee feels really good. Oh (no), I went too far. My knee’s flared up. I've got to take a week off.’ With all these setbacks he couldn’t catch any progression.”

Now, when the numbers indicate he should rest, he pays attention. He's a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL player who exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.

“I’m humbled and honored by it, but I think for me, the ultimate prize I’ve already won," Landeskog said. “That’s to continue working and getting to play hockey.”

Whyno reported from New York.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb, back, struggles to control the puck as goaltender Carter Hart, front, runs into Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog during the first period in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog, left, scores on Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart, second from right, as defenseman Noah Hanifin, second from left, and defenseman Devon Toews skate away during the first period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog, left, checks Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel during the second period in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog reacts after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — World Cup fans visiting Monterrey can expect a cutting-edge soccer stadium, searing heat and some of northern Mexico’s best grilled food.

The northern city is ready to showcase its industrial grit and mountain majesty for the 2026 World Cup, but fans should prepare for a climate that is as intense as the local football passion. While the city is a modern powerhouse, the June and July temperatures often soar past 100 F (38 C), making hydration and sun protection essential for visitors.

The people of Monterrey are very friendly and almost always very kind to visitors from other countries. They demonstrated this during the intercontinental playoff, especially with Iraq, that qualified for the World Cup in that city.

The Macroplaza is one of the largest public squares in the world, serving as the central hub for the city’s most significant monuments. It is surrounded by major institutions like the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Government Palace.

For a change of pace, the Barrio Antiguo (Old Quarter) features cobblestone streets and colorful colonial-style mansions. This historic neighborhood is the city’s cultural and bohemian center, filled with art galleries, independent coffee shops and antique stores.

Although it is now a common practice in almost the entire country, Monterrey is considered perhaps the first city to popularize the grill and carne asada — “grilled meat” in Spanish — in particular.

Expect to find an abundance of asadores and steakhouses spotlighting the region’s signature cuts — rib-eye, arrachera and cabrito — alongside expanded street food offerings like tacos de trompo, gorditas campechanas and rich quesadillas stuffed with local cheeses.

Beyond meats, Monterrey’s dining scene is diversifying rapidly: craft breweries and cocktail bars are proliferating, and chefs are increasingly fusing Mexican staples with Asian, Mediterranean and Southern U.S. influences to create approachable yet inventive plates for visitors.

The official central hub for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Monterrey will be in Parque Fundidora, a former steel foundry that has become a massive urban oasis and a testament to Monterrey’s industrial heritage. The park hosts the Paseo Santa Lucía, an artificial river offering scenic boat rides and walking paths.

Beyond the main park, the city created an 8-km pedestrian route that connects downtown Monterrey straight to Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe. The lively path will host street-food stalls, local performers and designated areas where supporters can drink, mingle and enjoy the matchday vibe.

Board Line 1 and ride it to the Exposición terminal station. The station connects directly to a secure, dedicated pedestrian walkway leading straight into the stadium gates.

Rideshare (Uber/DiDi): Drivers can drop fans off at designated rideshare drop-off zones outside the security perimeter. Expect heavy traffic and surge pricing on matchdays.

The stadium’s iconic steel structure can trap heat, so hydrate before entering.

Also, if you have tickets in the East stand, you will face direct afternoon sun. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. The West stand (Poniente) gets shade first.

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

FILE -View of the Metropolitan Cathedral during a memorial Mass for Pope Francis celebrated by Cardinal Leonardo Steiner in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros, File)

FILE - This photo taken Nov. 8, 2010, shows a view of the northern industrial city of Monterrey, Mexico. (AP Photo/Carlos Jasso, File)