After a long time away, Valeri Nichushkin was cleared to return to practice with the Colorado Avalanche on Monday.
Nichushkin has been away from the Avalanche since May 13, when he was placed in stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Under the terms of the joint program, the Russian forward was suspended without pay for a minimum of six months.
The Russian winger remains ineligible to apply for full reinstatement until mid-month, which he reportedly plans to do. As revealed by Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, per Colorado Hockey Now’s Aarif Deen, Nichushkin’s first game back in the team’s lineup will come against the Washington Capitals on November 15.
Miles Wood has been placed on Injured Reserve (retroactive to October 28).
Ivan Ivan, Nikolai Kovalenko and Nikita Prishchepov have been recalled from the Colorado Eagles.
Valeri Nichushkin has been cleared to practice with the team. He remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL… pic.twitter.com/tJZeVUupiv
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 4, 2024
Nichushkin was suspended and entered the program on the day of Colorado’s second-round, Game 3 matchup against the Dallas Stars after failing a drug test. He had already missed almost eight weeks of the 2023-24 regular season after being placed in stage 2 of the program in January.
Players are reportedly placed in stage 3 when they violate their stage 2 treatment plan. There is also a final stage 4, which results in suspension without pay for at least one year. Reinstatement to the league is not assured after the fourth stage.
The 29-year-old forward had played in Colorado’s eight playoff games until the suspension, tallying 10 points (9g, 1a). He was also one of their major contributors during the regular season, recording 53 points (28g, 25a) in 54 games.
“We need him obviously,” star forward Mikko Rantanen told The Denver Post’s Corey Masisak. “I don’t want to go into the past, what has happened before. We need him in the lineup. He’s a big part of the team.”
Colorado has struggled to start the season, facing numerous injury issues and goaltending woes. They sit just one point above the Nashville Predators for last in the Central Division after their uneven 5-7 start. The team’s minus-11 goal differential is the fifth-worst mark in the NHL.
Update (11/11): Jared Bednar has confirmed that Nichushkin’s first game back will be against the Capitals on Friday.
I asked Jared Bednar to confirm, and he did…
Val Nichushkin is expected to be IN the lineup on Friday as the Avs welcome in the Washington Capitals.
— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) November 10, 2024
