Colorado Avalanche Forward Valeri Nichushkin Suspended and Placed in Player Assistance Program

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has been suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in stage 3 of the league’s player assistance program before Game 4 on Monday night of a second-round series with Dallas. The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association announced the news about an hour before the start of the game with the Stars. This is the second time this season that Nichushkin has been in the program, and stage 3 means he violated the terms of the program.

The 29-year-old Russian forward will miss the rest of the postseason and the first month of next season at a minimum. His absence was felt by his teammates as they arrived at the rink Monday night before a 5-1 loss to the Stars, putting them on the brink of elimination. Despite the setback, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar expressed support for Nichushkin, acknowledging that he is struggling with something and emphasizing the need for the team to focus on the upcoming games.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer also showed empathy towards Nichushkin, highlighting the human side of the situation. This isn’t the first time Nichushkin has taken time off for personal reasons, as he was previously absent for nearly two months earlier this season to receive care from the NHLPA/NHL Player Assistance Program. His struggles have been ongoing, with a history of entering the program and missing games for undisclosed reasons.

The future of Nichushkin’s career with the Avalanche remains uncertain, as both Bednar and DeBoer expressed uncertainty about a potential reunion. The team will have to move forward without their leading playoff goal scorer as they face Game 5 in Dallas on Wednesday. The situation serves as a reminder of the challenges that athletes can face off the ice, and the importance of mental health support in professional sports.