In a glimmer of optimism for the injury-plagued Colorado Avalanche, suspended forward Valeri Nichushkin has been granted permission to resume practicing with the team. The 29-year-old Russian winger, who remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, is still ineligible to suit up for games, with his suspension slated to extend until at least mid-November.
Nichushkin’s return to the practice ice comes as a welcome development for an Avalanche squad decimated by injuries up front. According to a team spokesperson, Artturi Lehkonen, who has been sidelined while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, was activated from injured reserve on Monday, providing a glimmer of hope for the beleaguered club.
Nichushkin’s Murky Status
While Nichushkin’s clearance to practice represents a step forward, his playing status remains shrouded in uncertainty. The skilled forward was unavailable for a second consecutive postseason last May due to undisclosed circumstances away from the rink.
The league and players’ association announced Nichushkin’s suspension just an hour before the Avalanche fell 5-1 to the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of their second-round series, which Colorado would go on to lose.
This marked the second straight year that Nichushkin abruptly departed the team during the playoffs, having missed the final five games of a first-round loss to the Seattle Kraken in 2023 for what were characterized as personal reasons.
Long-Term Investment
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Nichushkin, the Avalanche have made a significant long-term investment in the enigmatic forward. In 2022, he inked an eight-year, $49 million contract extension that runs through the 2029-30 campaign. The sizable commitment came on the heels of Nichushkin’s career-best 28-goal outburst in just 54 regular-season contests.
Avalanche Infirmary Overflowing
As they navigate Nichushkin’s murky status, the Avalanche continue to grapple with a staggering array of injuries to key forwards:
- Captain Gabriel Landeskog remains sidelined indefinitely after undergoing knee surgery.
- Offseason acquisition Ross Colton is out with a broken foot.
- Veteran Jonathan Drouin is sidelined with an upper-body injury.
- Miles Wood, another summer addition, landed on injured reserve Monday with an upper-body ailment of his own.
The Avalanche are undoubtedly eager to welcome Nichushkin back into the fold, but for now, his on-ice participation will be limited to practices. As the calendar flips to November, Colorado’s Stanley Cup hopes may hinge on the health of their battered forward group and the uncertain status of one of their most dynamic wingers.
