Big-bodied Russian winger Valeri Nichushkin is getting another NHL chance, and it began in earnest Thursday against the team that gave up on him over the summer.
Nichushkin, who was signed by the Avalanche last month to a modest one-year, $850,000 contract, was bought out of the last year of his $2.95 million annual deal with the Dallas Stars on June 29.
The Avs hosted the Stars in a preseason game Thursday at the Pepsi Center, marking Nichushkin’s debut in burgundy and blue. Listed at just 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Nichushkin, 24, looked like a giant while playing left wing on a line with center Nazem Kadri and Joonas Donskoi.