Valeri Nichushkin hasn’t officially thrown a punch in an NHL fight in more than four years, and there are 92 guys who play his position who have registered more hits this season.
Nichushkin is not an elite power forward by previously held standards, but he might be the best modern version in the NHL right now. He has been one of the best players on the Avalanche for much of this season, and put together a virtuoso performance Tuesday night in a 5-4 win against the New York Islanders at Ball Arena.
“He’s a beast, and it’s just fun to watch him play,” Avs star Nathan MacKinnon said.