November 4, 2024 | 12:20pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

NICHUSHKIN NEARING RETURN WITH COLORADO

Valeri Nichushkin, forward

The Colorado Avalanche have not gotten off to the start they expected to this season, posting a 5-7-0 record over the first 12 games of the season.

While the team’s top guns are firing on all offensive cylinders, the Avs haven’t been able to string together a consistent winning performance, and a lack of depth has played a factor.

On Monday, however, the team announced that Valeri Nichushkin has been cleared for practice while he remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Nichushkin, 29, has three more years remaining on his contract after this season and has played a key role in the club’s overall offensive depth over the past few seasons.

With a return to the lineup on the horizon, Avs GM Chris MacFarland can focus on potentially adding in other teams to his team later in the season.

The Avs have some cap space to play with, and the club is still expecting captain Gabe Landeskog back at some point during the campaign, which will surely deepen the roster even further, but MacFarland won’t be able to paint a proper picture until Landeskog’s timeline becomes clear.

In 54 games with the Avalanche last season, Nichushkin registered 28 goals and 25 assists for 53 points.