DENVER — Will the Colorado Avalanche stop chewing their nails and twiddling their thumbs? Gabe Landeskog last suited up for Colorado 970 days ago as of Wednesday — or about 300 days longer than Jerry Lee Lewis’ first marriage.

Harper Lee wrote “To Kill A Mockingbird” in roughly 910 days. The Siege of Leningrad took 900. The Spanish Civil War started and ended in 878.

The NHL trade deadline, meanwhile, looms on March 7. That’s less than three weeks away.

On Wednesday, following the Avalanche’s first public workout since the 4 Nations break, Jared Bednar didn’t shake many nerves. But he might have rattled a few brains.

“No change, really, or nothing new to report on Gabe’s situation,” the coach said. “But I’m sure that does have an effect on our thinking going into the deadline — and what adds that we could make or that we would pursue.

“I try to stay out of most of that stuff and coach the team. So, yeah, it’s not really my question. But I’m sure (Landeskog) has something to do with it.”

Bednar did allow that Josh Manson is still dinged up. Which means the Avs need a D-man. Maybe two. But general manager Chris MacFarland probably can’t do any serious shopping until he knows what’s up with o captain, his captain.

“Yeah, I mean, that’ll be up to Gabe and our medical team when or if he’s going to be able to come back,” Bednar said of Landeskog, who remains MIA since cartilage transplant surgery on his knee in May 2023. “And then we’re – I mean, there (are) only seven weeks left (in the regular season).

“He’s working hard. He’s still trying to get better and get to a spot where he thinks he can play. And we’ll see if he’s able to accomplish that in the regular season. Or if it’s going to take until playoffs. Or if we’re going to have to go a certain length of time in the playoffs to get him back. Or even if he’s going to be able to get back this year.”

Four hypotheticals in one paragraph? You broke my will. Don’t be a shill.

It’s time to hit or get off the spot, coach. As of midweek, the Avs had just $4.76 million in cap space to play with, per Puckpedia.com. Which means if they activate Landeskog and his $7 million cap number for ’24-25, somebody else is going to have to be moved.

And the calendar’s no longer on MacFarland’s side. We’ve likely already missed the deadline for the first Landy hypothetical — the regular season. There’s seven weeks left in the latter, and it’ll take at least three for the Avs captain to get up to game speed via practices or a ramp-up rehab stint. Although, do you really want to chance a 32-year-old testing his new cartilage in the rough-and-tumble AHL?

The sooner MacFarland makes a call on Landy, the better. For everybody’s sake.

He’s winning the early returns on the Mikko Rantanen trade, but the job’s not done. The Avs rolled into the break having won four out of their last five and five of their last seven. They’ve still got needs.

Another defenseman. More options at center. A big body in front of the net on the power play. A plugger with soft hands and brass knuckles. A tough guy. In other words, there’s a Landy-sized hole in among the top-6 forward corps. Same as it ever was.

Valeri Nichushkin ticks a lot of those same boxes. But that’s another slot machine that could hit big or bust at any minute.

The rub is what to do if you’re forced to jump into the Stanley Cup cage match without either. Shelving Landeskog on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) again won’t rally the troops. But at least it’ll stop muddying the waters.

“I don’t know. It’s just kind of wait-and-see, and keep putting in the work,” Bednar said. “And, yeah, we’ll hope for the best. We’ll hope for the best.”

Hope’s a lovely aspiration. Goodness gracious, it’s not a strategy.

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