Colorado Avalanche Releases Official Statement on Valeri Nichushkin's Status

During the second round of the 2024 NHL playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche had to compete without their top performer: Valeri Nichushkin. He was playing some of the best hockey of his career up until that point. In eight games, he scored 10 points including nine goals, a near-superhuman performance. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the NHL to realize something was wrong.

During an intermission, Nichushkin failed a drug test and entered the third phase of the Player Assistance Program. He was suspended for six months back in May, which means he could be eligible to return in November.

While the Avalanche already explained that they would keep the player on the team, they didn't share updates on what would come for Nichushkin either in terms of punishment or his placement on the roster. That just changed though as an official statement was shared on the Avalanche's official X account. The team revealed that Nichushkin arrived in Denver, and is expected to get back on the ice to train soon, on his own, as he can't be practicing with the team yet:

Nichushkin is a good hockey player, there's no denying it. However, before being back on the ice with his teammates, he'll need to make amends for abandoning his team in the playoffs. The Avalanche worked hard but couldn't keep up against the Dallas Stars without him and were eliminated only a few days after Nichushkin was suspended.

Nichushkin's arrival should go smoothly, as currently Artturi Lehkonen, Jonathan Drouin, and Gabriel Landeskog are on the injury list, and the team needs Nichushkin to win now more than ever. They proved it by losing their first four games of the season. Even though they managed to win last night, thanks to a spectacular goal by Nathan MacKinnon, Nichushkin is expected to bring valuable reinforcements to the top six, something essential if Colorado wants to make it close to the Stanley Cup.

Nichushkin's teammates, coaches, and fans will hope that the player will be able to return and contribute to the Avs' success. Their season depends on it.