Val Nichushkin has been tapped as the Dallas Stars "x-factor" for this season. So why is he on his second healthy scratch in this very young season?
Valeri Nichushkin expects a lot from himself. You can see it in the frustration he displays on his sticks when he doesn't score in a game. He intends to score, and score a lot. He's had a level of success doing just that at the NHL level before being sidelined by an injury through all of last season.
Throughout training camp, Nichushkin looked like the extended time away from the game had given him more rust to shake off than previously seen by him.