Valeri Nichushkin practiced with the Colorado Avalanche for the first time since he was removed from the team on May 13 and placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed the NHL’s date for Nichushkin’s reinstatement is Nov. 15.
“I think it’s a relief for him. He’s been skating by himself for months now. So anytime you can rejoin a group, it’s always a lot of fun to get some real passes and some game like situations. So it’s good to see him out there. And yeah, it’s fun,” Cale Makar said.
Nichushkin’s absence has been a huge loss to the team but the players have welcomed him back despite the timing of his departure in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. The leaders on the team know what an asset he is to win games and that’s what they are focused on.
“I think it’s great. I think it’s just good to see Lehky (Artturi Lehkonen) and Dru (Jonathan Drouin) and Val (Nichushkin) back with the team and skating,” Mikko Rantanen said. “I feel like everybody’s pretty close to coming back — the way it looks for me I don’t ask questions too much — but yeah so I think it’s going to help us. That’s three elite forwards right there, that’s going to help our team to hopefully get on a roll a little bit and rack up some wins together.”
The 29-year-old forward’s size and strength have been key pieces missing from the top six. Nathan MacKinnon said before the season started that he didn’t “really need to hear anything” from Nichushkin when he returned to the team.
“Yeah, it’s great. Obviously, miss him too, another two-way force we’re missing. Yeah, it’s really exciting to have him moving,” MacKinnon said.
Rantanen said he didn’t know Nichushkin was returning to the team until he got on the ice and saw him out there. Bednar said the team was informed of his clearance a few days ago but there was no official announcement to the team about his return.
“They’re excited. I talked to a handful of guys. They know how much we need him. They know what he means to our team, and they’re excited to have him back. They’ve seen him around here now for a couple weeks, but now to be able to join the team, it’s starting to get real,” Bednar said.
The Russian forward missed two months last season from time spent in Stage 2 of the Player Assistance Program but still earned 53 points in 54 games. He notched 10 points in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games before being suspended for six months. The proof is in the numbers — the team needs him to help win games.