DENVER — Valeri Nichushkin’s third absence in 13 months invites all kinds of uncomfortable questions.
And perhaps not many answers in the short term.
The joint announcement from the NHL and NHL Players’ Association that Nichushkin, the Colorado Avalanche forward and one of the top goal-scorers in these playoffs, was placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and suspended for a minimum of six months without pay for violating the terms of Stage 2, was bombshell news ahead of Game 4 of the Stars-Avalanche series on Monday.
First and foremost, one hopes that the player gets the help he needs as a person, never mind the hockey part of it. The Avalanche announced before their game that they won’t comment further, beyond what the NHL-NHLPA joint statement said.
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin placed in Stage 3 of NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
Details: https://t.co/CgJeayHXDs pic.twitter.com/kMzjJlYKG3
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 14, 2024
The statement read in part that, “under the terms of the joint program … (Nichushkin) will be eligible to apply for reinstatement.’’
A refresher of the program’s stages (a program that’s collectively bargained between the NHL and NHLPA):
Stage 1: First in-patient treatment; no penalty.
Stage 2: For violation of Stage 1 treatment plan, suspension without pay during active phase of treatment, and then eligible for reinstatement.
Stage 3: For violation of Stage 2 treatment plan, suspension without pay for at least six months, and then eligible for reinstatement.
Stage 4: For violation of Stage 3 treatment plan, suspension without pay for at least one year. Reinstatement not assured.
The NHL, the NHLPA and the Avalanche would not confirm reports from Daily Faceoff and ESPN that Nichushkin had failed a drug test. But the fact is that the joint statement said he’s in Stage 3, which means a violation of his Stage 2 treatment plan.
And now, the Avalanche have lost one of their top offensive threats right in the middle of a playoff series, just as they did a year ago, when Nichushkin was sent away after an incident at a Seattle hotel and did not return. The team attributed his absence to “personal reasons.”
Nichushkin’s entry into Stage 2 of the program was never announced. In January, Nichushkin stepped away as the team announced, via a quote from Nichushkin, that he had decided to enter the program. He returned in early March.
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 15, 2024
Which brings us to the harder conversation: What do you do next if you’re the Avalanche?
Nichushkin is wrapping up the second season of an eight-year, $49 million contract. In case people are wondering, a league source said what has transpired here does not constitute grounds for the Avalanche to consider a contract termination. A league source also confirmed that Nichushkin will not count on the Avalanche’s salary cap while he’s suspended over the next six months. But if he’s cleared from Stage 3 in six months, his contract goes back on the cap. That could be around November.
But again, where do you go from here if you’re the Avs?
Nichushkin clearly needs help and, no doubt, every organization wants to be known for having its players’ backs and being supportive in times of need. That’s obviously important.
But there’s the business side, as cold as it sounds, and no doubt the Avs’ front office has to be asking: “Will we ever be able to trust this guy again?”
No easy answers here.
The hard reality is that Nichushkin needs help, and the Avs have been hit hard by his loss at the worst time of the year two playoff springs in a row.
The on-ice impact of his loss can’t be ignored, even if it’s not the most important part.
I reached out to one NHL head coach, who requested anonymity given the sensitive nature of the news, and he was quick to say that he felt bad for the player and what he’s going through. But on the hockey side of things, there’s no sugar-coating what Nichushkin’s loss means to the Avs. The coach said Nichushkin was arguably the best player against them the last time they played.
“We couldn’t handle his size, strength or speed,” the coach said via text message. “He can turn a game/momentum around for them by using all of the above. He is a huge loss on five-on-five and (power play)…”
I also reached out to a rival Western Conference front-office executive who said this about the on-ice loss of Nichushkin:
“I think it’s potentially huge,” he said via text message. “Avs already are top heavy offensively, and now without him, it looks like they have only one line that would scare you. … Plus his impact on special teams; (Nathan MacKinnon) and (Mikko Rantanen) might need to play 28 minutes.’’
Nichushkin was arguably Colorado’s best player in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay. And he was leading the Avs with nine playoff goals in his eight games before Monday’s suspension. It’s likely no coincidence that the Avalanche looked flat at the start of Game 4, falling into a 2-0 deficit.
That’s the hockey side of things. There are much bigger things that matter here.
But it does at least make one wonder what his hockey future looks like in Colorado.
(Photo of Valeri Nichushkin: Matthew Pearce / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
