DENVER — Valeri Nichushkin has made significant progress this season in enhancing his impactful, scoring style of play.
According to his Colorado Avalanche teammates, coach, and general manager, his personal life away from hockey has also improved.
Almost a year ago, during a series against the Dallas Stars, Nichushkin faced a six-month suspension and was placed into Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. This announcement occurred just before Game 4 of the second-round series, marking the second consecutive postseason where the Russian right winger was unavailable due to off-ice issues.
Nichushkin and the Avalanche are set to compete against the Stars — the team that drafted him in 2013 — in the opening round of the playoffs, starting Saturday in Dallas.
“His personal life is in a very good place,” stated Avalanche coach Jared Bednar on Friday, prior to the team`s departure for Dallas. “I am genuinely happy for him and proud of his hard work.”
Teammate Logan O’Connor added, “When someone faces personal challenges, it’s hard not to support them. His comeback has been truly impressive. To perform at his current level is something his teammates admire, and we are always rooting for him.”
When in the lineup, the 30-year-old Nichushkin is a valuable asset for the Avalanche. The team`s record is 224-79-29 when he plays. However, he has missed the team’s last two playoff defeats due to off-ice matters.
Earlier this week, General Manager Chris MacFarland addressed potential concerns about trust given Nichushkin`s past.
“I have complete confidence and trust in Val,” MacFarland said. “Looking at his on-ice performance and what he has overcome, I have full faith that he is in a great state and will continue to work hard for us and be a valuable player.”
Nichushkin was suspended for the first 17 games of the season before returning on November 15 against Washington. He also missed 21 games due to a lower-body injury. Despite this, he recorded 21 goals and 13 assists, averaging just under 20 minutes of ice time per game.
Defenseman Erik Johnson describes the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Nichushkin as a “forechecking machine” who also contributes to special teams. He achieved his first regular-season hat trick last month.
Johnson highlighted Nichushkin`s importance: “He`s the kind of player every team needs but not all possess.” He noted Nichushkin`s key role in Colorado`s 2022 Stanley Cup victory, adding, “We are fortunate to have him.”
Losing Nichushkin against the Stars was a significant setback for the Avalanche, who went on to lose that series in six games.
This followed Nichushkin`s abrupt departure from the team during the 2023 first-round playoff series against Seattle for what were described as personal reasons. He missed the final five games of that postseason, and the Avalanche lost the series 4-3.
“He took the necessary steps to become healthy. We supported him throughout,” O’Connor said. “He has been fantastic. I believe he has significantly improved his well-being and become more open. As a team, perhaps we weren`t creating a sufficiently open environment for him before. Collectively, it has been much healthier this year. The results on the ice are evident, and we are very proud of him.”
“It has been a challenging journey for him, but we are happy with his current state. He is in a great place.”