VALERI NICHUSHKIN NEWS

Returns to action Friday Nichushkin made his season debut in a 5-2 loss to the Capitals on Friday.

Impact Nichushkin received 19:27 of ice time, and he accounted for one shot, one block and a minus-3 rating. It was the Russian forward's first game of the 2024-25 campaign after being suspended for six months. Nichushkin will likely need some time to get his feet under him, but when he does, he should produce at close to a point-per-game pace.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Connor McMichael scores twice in the Capitals' 5-2 victory over the Avalanche

Connor McMichael had two goals and the Washington Capitals scored four times on their first 10 shots in a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night

5 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Suspended Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin added to roster, will make season debut against Washington

Suspended Colorado forward Valeri Nichushkin was added to the Avalanche’s active roster and will make his season debut Friday night against Washington

5 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Activated Friday Nichushkin (suspension) is listed on the Avs' roster ahead of Friday's matchup with Washington, per the NHL media site.

Impact Nichushkin was previously expected to return for Friday's contest but still needed to be reinstated, a move that appears to have gone off without a hitch. With the 29-year-old winger set to make his 2024-25 season debut, he figures to slot into a second-line role alongside Casey Mittelstadt and Artturi Lehkonen and should see some power-play minutes as well.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Avalanche Confirm Valeri Nichushkin's Return Date From 6-Month Ban Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin has been banned from hockey activities for six months.

NOVEMBER 11 • KANSASCITY.COM

First Shift: Avalanche injury updates | NHL.com Valeri Nichushkin to return on November 15

NOVEMBER 4 • NHL.COM

Expected back Nov. 15 Nichushkin (suspension) is set to return to action against the Capitals on Nov. 15 as long as his reinstatement goes as planned, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Nichushkin will have to wait five more games to make his 2024-25 season debut after entering Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Assuming he is reinstated as expected, Nichushkin will likely push for a top-six role and could be in the mix for power-play minutes as well. Despite being limited to just 54 regular-season games last year, Nichushkin still managed to set new career highs in goals (28) and points (53).

NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Suspended Valeri Nichushkin cleared to practice with Avalanche, remains in player assistance program

The Colorado Avalanche say suspended forward Valeri Nichushkin has been cleared to begin practicing with the team

NOVEMBER 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Receives green light to practice Nichushkin (suspension) was cleared to practice with Colorado on Monday.

Impact Nichushkin remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He was suspended for at least six months in May for violating the treatment plan and still has to apply for reinstatement. Still, this is a step in the right direction for the 29-year-old forward. He amassed 28 goals, 53 points, 158 shots on net and 74 hits across 54 regular-season appearances in 2023-24.

NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Skates Friday Nichushkin (suspension) skated with the team's skills coach and a staff member Friday after his Avalanche teammates finished practice, Colleen Flynn of Colorado Hockey Now reports.

Impact Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said Nichushkin has been skating at the facility for a couple of weeks, but the forward is not yet allowed around his teammates until the NHL clears him. The 29-year-old forward was suspended May 13 for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of NHL/NHL Players' Association player assistance program. The six-month minimum window comes to close during November, and Bednar is hoping Nichushkin can start practicing with the team ahead of the time the NHL rules that he can resuming playing in games.

NOVEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Avalanche deal with another injury with team's leading scorer Ross Colton sidelined by a broken foot

The Colorado Avalanche will be without their leading goal scorer Ross Colton for at least six weeks after he broke his foot blocking a shot

OCTOBER 30 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Arrives in Denver Nichushkin (suspension) is in Denver and to work out and skate on his own, the Avalanche announced Saturday.

Impact Nichushkin is in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and is not eligible to apply for reinstatement before Nov. 15. Nichushkin was outstanding in 2023-24, picking up 28 goals and 53 points in 54 regular-season appearances. He will be a top-six forward upon his return.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Avalanche without forward Jonathan Drouin, claim goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers

The banged-up Colorado Avalanche will be without forward Jonathan Drouin due to an upper-body injury

OCTOBER 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not in Denver yet Nichushkin (suspension) is expected to arrive in Denver in late October, according to Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now on Tuesday.

Impact Nichushkin should be back on the ice with his teammates at some point in November. He was placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in May for violating the treatment plan and suspended for at least six months. Nichushkin is eligible to apply for reinstatement in November. He produced 28 goals and 53 points in 54 regular-season contests with the Avalanche in 2023-24.

OCTOBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Timeline to return uncertain Nichushkin (suspension) does not have a clear timeline to return to the Avalanche, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.

Impact Nichushkin is listed on the Avalanche's training camp roster, but he is not eligible to participate or play in regular-season games until mid-November. Head coach Jared Bednar said the team will have multiple meetings to address the situation ahead of the winger's reintegration with the club. Nichushkin remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

No clarity, little subtlety on Avs' Valeri Nichushkin situation: 'What happens here moving forward, that's up to him' DENVER - Chris MacFarland and Gabe Landeskog spent nearly an hour taking questions from assembled me...

MAY 24 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

No clarity, little subtlety on Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin situation: "What happens here moving forward, that's up to him" There are many questions still about Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin, but it’s clear he has more work to do beyond getting righ...

MAY 23 • DENVERPOST.COM

Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog looking to return next season after missing 2 years with knee injury

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has missed the last two seasons because of his right knee but he’s making strides and is optimistic he will return next season

MAY 23 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Avalanche face hard decisions with Landeskog, Nichushkin in offseason after 2nd round loss to Dallas

The biggest factor in the direction of the Colorado Avalanche’s offseason plans may just hinge on trust

MAY 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Participation in the NHL's player assistance program is up this season. That may not be a bad thing

Five NHL players left their teams this season to receive care from an off-ice assistance program run by the league and union

MAY 15 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wyatt Johnston scores twice as Stars push Avs to brink of elimination with 5-1 win in Game 4

Wyatt Johnston scored twice on the eve of his 21st birthday as the Dallas Stars pushed Colorado to the brink of elimination with a 5-1 win in Game 4 that came hours after Avalanche...

MAY 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended for at least 6 months hour before Game 4 Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for six months and placed in stage 3 of the league's player assistance program

MAY 14 • THEPROVINCE.COM

Avalanche lose key playoff piece as Valeri Nichushkin suspended for at least six months Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was put in the NHL's Player Assistance Program, forcing him to miss the rest of the playoffs an...

MAY 14 • USATODAY.COM

Drouin returns from injury for Game 4, tries to fill void for Avs on heels of Nichushkin suspension

Colorado Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin returned to the lineup Monday night against Dallas, trying to fill a scoring void on the heels of Valeri Nichushkin’s suspension

MAY 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Avs' Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) to miss rest of playoffs Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was put in Stage 3 of the Player Assistance Program of the NHL Players’ Association and NHL on...

MAY 14 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM