To the chagrin of some fans, Valeri Nichushkin will likely wear a Colorado Avalanche uniform in a few months.
The troubled winger is currently suspended until November while he’s in stage three of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. After winning their third Stanley Cup championship in franchise history in 2022, the Avalanche awarded Nichushkin an eight-year, $49 million contract, a deal that has been an unprecedented disaster to this point.
According to an ex-Russian National team scout who claims to be a close confidant of Nichushkin, the 29-year-old is on track to return in November, albeit the NHL and the NHLPA have to clear him to play first.