The Colorado Avalanche recently announced that suspended forward Valeri Nichushkin has been given the green light to start practicing with the team. However, he is still in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and is not yet eligible to participate in games. His suspension is expected to last until at least mid-November.
Nichushkin’s potential return to the lineup would provide a much-needed boost to the Avalanche, who have been dealing with a shortage of forwards due to various injuries. There is hope that Artturi Lehkonen, who was activated from the injured reserve list, will also be back soon after recovering from shoulder surgery during the offseason.
The 29-year-old Russian right winger has faced challenges in recent seasons, missing out on important games due to personal circumstances. In the 2023 playoffs, Nichushkin had to leave the team during a first-round series against Seattle, and he was also absent from the postseason in May for reasons off the ice.
Despite these setbacks, Nichushkin has shown his value on the ice, setting a career-high of 28 goals during the 2023-24 season in just 54 regular-season games. He remains under contract with the Avalanche until the 2029-30 season, having signed a significant eight-year, $49 million deal back in 2022.
In addition to Nichushkin’s potential return, the Avalanche are eagerly awaiting the recovery of key players such as captain Gabriel Landeskog, Ross Colton, Jonathan Drouin, and Miles Wood. Wood was recently placed on the injured reserve list due to an upper-body injury, adding to the team’s current challenges on the forward line.
As the Avalanche navigate through this period of injuries and suspensions, the imminent return of Nichushkin to practice brings hope for a stronger and more competitive team in the near future. Fans will be keeping a close eye on his progress and eagerly anticipating his eventual return to game action to help lead the Avalanche to success on the ice.