Major update on Valeri Nichushkin's future with the Colorado Avalanche following arrest last season
The Colorado Avalanche have struggled early in the season, but now they've got a huge update on a key piece of their lineup in Valeri Nichushkin.
While many expected the Colorado Avalanche to be a tough team to beat in 2024/25, they are just 1-4-0 to start the season through five games, but after beating the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night, confidence is high that the win could spark something for this team. Unfortunately for the Avs, a return for any of the injured trio of Gabriel Landeskog, Jonathan Drouin and Artturi Lehkonen don't seem to be on the horizon, but today the team got some great news on Valeri Nichushkin, who remains in the NHLPA's Player Assistance Program.
According to a social media release from the team, Nichushkin has been allowed to return to the ice and begin skating on his own as he works his way towards a comeback, despite remaining in the final stage of the Player Assistance Program.
Over the past two years, Nichushkin has been involved in a highly concerning situation, but according to recent comments made by both Nathan MacKinnon and Jared Bednar, the pair are ready to welcome the veteran forward back with 'open arms'. At 29-years of age, Nichushkin comes into this season on the back of the three most successful years of his career, putting up 52, 47 and 53 points in each season respectively, despite playing just 62, 53 and 54 games in that time, proving he may be the offensive punch this team is missing.
Ultimately, we still don't know when Nichushkin will possibly return to the lineup, but with the team putting up a great performance on Friday, they've shown that they are capable of playing competitive hockey, and if they can get their star forward back to deepen this lineup while they wait for their injured trio to return, it will be a major boost to their Stanley Cup hopes.
