Over the past three seasons Valeri Nichushkin has been to the highest peaks, helping the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup on June 15th, 2022 and now experiencing the lowest valley after the league and union announced that he would be entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
Last season, when the Avalanche were in Seattle just before their playoff game with the Kraken, Nichushkin was involved in an incident that included a intoxicated woman at the team hotel, which ultimately resulted in the Colorado forward stepping away from the team for the remainder of the playoffs.
This season, Nichushkin has been a huge part of Colorado’s success playing 40 games, racking up 22 goals, and 20 assists. Nichushkin scored two goals against the defending champs, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, in Colorado’s 3-0 shutout last Wednesday night.
Nichushkin’s absence was noticed in Colorado’s last two games against the Toronto Maple Leafs (Avalanche won 5 -3) and the Montreal Canadiens (Avalanche lost 4-3).
His departure leaves a huge gap to fill while he gets the help needed to return to the team. Nichushkin had this to say about his departure, “I have made the decision to seek help and enter the players assistance program. My goal is to address my issues and prevent any negative out- comes once and for all. I want to thank my wife and family, my friends, the Avalanche organization and all of our fans for their understanding and support. I will do everything I can to get back on the ice and join my teammates as soon as possible.”
No specific details have been release as to what Nichushkin is being treated for but fans have offered their support to the Colorado forward on social media with responses like these, “Wish nothing but the best for Val,” and “Take all the time you need, Nuke. We got your back!”
In other sports the Denver Nuggets have won four of their last six games with their latest wins over the New Orleans Pelicans last Friday and the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at Ball Arena.
Sunday’s game welcomed back ex-Nugget Bruce Brown who received a warm welcome by fans and ex-teammates at center court when he received his championship ring.
The Nuggets are on the road for the next five games in Philly, Boston, D.C, and Indiana to face the 76er’s, the Celtics, the Wizards and the Pacers before returning home to host the Philadelphia 76er’s.
The Nuggets are currently one game behind the Western Conference leading Minnesota Timberwolves who have won their last two games over the Portland Trailblazers and the L.A. Clippers.
The NFC East took a big hit over the past two games when both the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles lost in Wild Card weekend to the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaving no remaining team from the division.
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, while the L.A. Rams lost to the Detroit Lions. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins in one of the coldest games on record, while the Houston Texans pummeled the Cleveland Browns.
