He is back

After Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for six months, the Colorado Avalanche attempted to move forward.

The Colorado Avalanche’s practice facility has already removed the nameplate above Valeri Nichushkin’s locker.

It might be temporary, or it might be permanent.

The Avalanche are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row because one of their best players, Nikita Nichushkin, is unable to play because of personal issues.

When it comes to the gifted 29-year-old Russian forward, this might be the final straw for the Avs.

Nichushkin was placed in stage 3 of the league’s player assistance program and given a minimum six-month unpaid suspension on Monday night.

About an hour prior to the start of the Avalanche’s 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars, which left them trailing 3-1 in the second-round series, the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association made the announcement.

Coach Jared Bednar declined to attribute the defeat to the absence of the team’s top scorer in the postseason. Since Nichushkin had been seeking treatment earlier in the season, Colorado had been without him; his return had given the team momentum. However, his stage 3 violation indicates that he broke the requirements of the program, which offers assistance with anything from substance addiction to mental health issues.

At the very least, Nichushkin will miss the first month of the following season and the remainder of the postseason.

Throughout the day, teammates learned about his ban at different points. They were outshot 16 to 2 in the opening frame of Game 4, and they were never able to get back on track. To stay in the best-of-seven series, they need to win on Wednesday in Dallas. After an optional practice on Tuesday, Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon stated, “Obviously, tough for him, his family,” adding that general manager Chris MacFarland and president Joe Sakic informed him of the Nichushkin news. “I’ll stop talking about it there.” Nichushkin’s difficulties have not been made public. Nichushkin abruptly quit the team during a first-round playoff series against Seattle last spring, missing the final five postseason games as the Avalanche lost the series.

Nichushkin has been a key player in this postseason run, leading the squad with nine goals in the playoffs. In 2022, he signed an eight-year, $49 million contract with the Avalanche, and the deal is good until the 2029–2030 season.

It’s impossible to predict with certainty when or when Nichushkin will return. How can he regain teammates’ faith when they’ve already given him another chance, if he returns?

“Val is clearly having difficulties,” Bednar remarked. Indeed, that is quite bad for our team. We have to flip the chapter.

Bednar continued, “I want him to be happy and content in his life, whether that is with our team or not with our team.” “We’re hoping he can get some rest and get help.

With MacKinnon, 28, Cale Makar, 25, and Mikko Rantanen, 27, as its core group, the squad is also in its prime window for winning titles. Additionally, they are hoping that their captain, Gabriel Landeskog, 31, who has missed the last two seasons due to cartilage replacement surgery on his right knee, will make a comeback.

Colorado’s first priority is to find a way to pull together and prevent another early departure.

Forward Andrew Cogliano stated, “We’re giving it everything we’ve got, but this is a tough business.” I believe that we should concentrate on the men present.

At the end of the day, this is what it is for us, even though there are many wonderful people here who are attempting to make a difference.

The Avalanche, who won the Stanley Cup championship in 2022, suffered a further blow when they learned shortly before Game 4 that star defenseman Devon Toews would miss the remainder of the season due to sickness.

“We are not being pitied by anyone,” Cogliano remarked.

Earlier in the season, from January 13 to March 7, Nichushkin was unable to access program care for unreleased issues for nearly two months.

Nichushkin’s absence during the playoffs last spring began when police responded to a distress call at a Seattle hotel just before Game 3. When police came, a 28-year-old lady was in an ambulance, and the doctors were instructed to get more information by speaking with an Avalanche team physician.

The Avalanche physician informed authorities that team members discovered the lady while they were checking on Nichushkin, according to the report that The Associated Press was able to receive at the time from the Seattle Police Department. The doctor reported to the authorities that the woman looked extremely drunk and asked for EMS help.

Game 7 finished with a 2-1 home loss to the Kraken, ending Colorado’s season.

It might very well come to an end on Wednesday in Dallas.

MacKinnon stated, “Obviously, we want both Val and Toews in the lineup.” “But I still think we have what it takes to win it all.”