In a shocking development, the Colorado Avalanche have dismissed star forward Valeri Nichushkin following his suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. The league announced that Nichushkin has been suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the program, indicating a significant breach of its terms.
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Nichushkin’s suspension was announced just an hour before the Avalanche’s Game 4 loss to the Dallas Stars, leaving the team trailing 3-1 in their second-round playoff series. The timing of the announcement disrupted the team’s preparation and morale, as they were informed of the suspension at various times throughout the day.
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Head Coach Jared Bednar expressed concern for Nichushkin’s well-being, stating, “I want him to be happy and I want him to be content in his life, whether that is with our team or not with our team. We hope that he can find some peace and get help.”
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This incident marks the second consecutive postseason in which Nichushkin has been absent due to off-ice issues. Last year, he missed five games in the first-round series against the Seattle Kraken for “personal reasons,” after an intoxicated woman was found in his hotel room. Although no charges were filed, the incident raised concerns about his reliability.
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Teammates have expressed frustration over the repeated disruptions. Defenseman Jack Johnson commented, “He made his decisions. That’s all I’m going to say on that. He made his decisions.”
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The Avalanche now face the challenge of regrouping without one of their top playoff scorers. The team’s core, including Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen, must step up to fill the void left by Nichushkin’s absence. The organization is also hoping for the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has been recovering from knee surgery.
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As the Avalanche navigate this crisis, the focus remains on supporting Nichushkin’s recovery while striving to maintain their competitiveness in the playoffs.
