There was little question when the Dallas Stars bought out the final year of Valeri Nichushkin’s contract in late June that the Russian winger would end up somewhere on an NHL roster. We now know that spot is in Colorado with the Avalanche.
Nichushkin was a 2013 first-round pick for the Stars while he was under contract with Dynamo Moscow. That contract was conditionally terminated, allowing Val to sign with the Stars, but only if he played with the NHL club. Nichushkin made his debut with the Stars as an 18-year-old rookie on October 3, 2013.