Valeri Nichushkin of the Colorado Avalanche has been placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program, which means he violated the terms of the program. This is the second time he has been in the program this season and he will now be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months. Nichushkin was leading the team with nine playoff goals before being placed in the program. He had previously missed nearly two months earlier in the season for undisclosed issues and the final five games of a playoff exit last season for personal reasons. In a previous playoff series against the Seattle Kraken, he left the team for personal reasons after a crisis at a hotel.
During the incident with the woman at the hotel, the Avalanche physician told officers that team employees found her when they checked on Nichushkin. The woman appeared to be heavily intoxicated and requested EMS assistance. Nichushkin had previously downplayed the incident when asked about it before the season. In the 54 games he did play during the 2023-24 season, he scored 28 goals and racked up 53 points. The specific issues that led to his placement in the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program have not been disclosed.
The Colorado Avalanche will now be without Valeri Nichushkin for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and for several months. As a result of his suspension under Stage 3 of the program, he will be ineligible to play for a minimum of six months. It is unclear when he may be eligible to apply for reinstatement to the team. Nichushkin’s absence will be felt as he was leading the team in playoff goals and had a strong regular-season performance as well. The team will need to find a way to replace his scoring and overall contributions while he is out.
Nichushkin’s history of issues that led to his placement in the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program includes a previous absence of nearly two months earlier in the season and missing the final five games of a playoff exit last season. During a previous playoff series against the Seattle Kraken, he left the team for personal reasons. The specific details of the incidents that led to his placements in the program have not been disclosed, but it is clear that he has been dealing with personal challenges that have impacted his availability to the team.
The incident with the woman at the hotel, where Nichushkin was found with team employees, highlights potential off-ice concerns that may have contributed to his placement in the program. The team physician found the woman heavily intoxicated and requested EMS assistance. Nichushkin had previously dismissed the incident as not being interesting when asked about it before the season. It is important for players to receive the support they need for any personal issues they may be facing, and the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program is designed to provide that support to players in need.
As the Colorado Avalanche move forward in the Stanley Cup Playoffs without Valeri Nichushkin, they will need to adapt their lineup and strategies to compensate for his absence. Nichushkin’s scoring and overall contributions will be missed, but the team will have to rally together and find ways to fill the void left by his suspension. It remains to be seen when or if Nichushkin will be reinstated to the team, but for now, the Avalanche will have to focus on the task at hand and continue their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
