The Colorado Avalanche are prepared to welcome winger Valeri Nichushkin back to the game lineup in their Friday matchup against the Washington Capitals, head coach Jared Bednar shared with media including Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports. Nichushkin hasn’t played since being placed into Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on May 14th, which included with a six-month suspension from team activity and pay. The Stage 3 placement also required Nichushkin to submit an application to be considered for reinstatement at the end of his suspension. He returned to Denver in early October and rejoined the team’s practices in early November. He’s eligible to return to the lineup on November 13th, though Colorado will seemingly choose to push that return back a couple of days.
Nichushkin entered the Player Assistance Program square in the middle of Colorado’s second-round series against the Dallas Stars in last season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was playing at an all-time high at the time, with nine goals and 10 points through eight postseason games. Colorado would ultimately relinquish the series to Dallas with a two-overtime loss in Game 6.
Nichushkin has been a welcome gift on the ice. He’s carved out a considerable top-six role since joining Colorado via waivers in 2019, proving capable of both routine scoring and great off-puck habits. Those traits have helped Nichushkin routinely rival the 25-goal and 50-point marks in each of the last three seasons, even despite totaling 77 missed games in that span. He’s been even better in the postseason, scoring 15 points in 20 games during Colorado’s run to a 2022 Stanley Cup win, and was one of only five Avalanche to score above a point-per-game pace in last year’s postseason.
That production has made it all the more difficult for Colorado to deal with Nichushkin’s routine absences. He’s hit every hole in the road, being forced out by multiple upper-body injuries across 2021, 2022, and 2023; and was sat by the team for the final five games of their 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs for personal reasons. Nichushkin has become a contentious player, but head coach Bednar spoke positively about his return to the lineup, saying: “[His process back has] been great. I think the guys are excited to get him back, and Friday is the day. We’re only two games away.” Nichushkin had 13 points in the final 15 games of the 2023-24 regular season, and will look to quickly pick up from where he left off.
Colorado has no choice but to trade him! Can’t wait to see how the organization spins this one.
Well, he’s basically at a crossroads now. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up with “mutual contract termination” if he has another slip-up. This is similar to Derek Sanderson in some ways. Hopefully, someone in his inner circle can remind him of that and get him back on the straight and narrow.
Last chance? Steve Howe disagrees!
Glad you’re back Nichuskin. Addiction is a can I swear here no I doubt it *bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeep* piece of garbage. I feel you bro. Get back out there and do what you do best. Happy you got through this hope it’s the last time my man.
“…sat by the team for the final five games of their 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs for personal reasons.”
Sat on an airplane and rushed out of Seattle to never rejoin the team for the brief remainder of their first round exit.
You kind of wonder if internally the players & coaches are rather mixed or indifferent on Nichushkin‘s return. Externally, they’ll say they’re “glad” he’s back but behind closed doors it might be a very different vibe personally. I’m sure the organization’s management itself is on edge with Nichushkin at this point. He has not been exactly reliable or in some cases, not a good teammate in various regards. I strongly assume Nichushkin is on his last straw with them. It’s possible they hope he plays well & stays course long enough that maybe his trade value goes up to be potentially tradable. Only time will tell.