November 16th 2024.
Valeri Nichushkin found himself once again facing a crowd of reporters, as he reflected on his return to the Avalanche after being away during last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs. After making his season debut in a 5-2 loss against the Washington Capitals at Ball Arena, Nichushkin opened up about the work he put in while serving a six-month suspension in the NHL-NHLPA player assistance program.
"It was a challenging time," Nichushkin shared. "I had to put in a lot of effort and work through a lot of things. But I can say that I've made significant progress with my mental health and I hope to never have to go through something like that again."
During the second round of the 2024 playoffs, Nichushkin was suspended and had to return to the player assistance program. The Avalanche ended up losing that night and ultimately the series in six games. It was a tough blow for the talented forward who had a standout season in 2023-24, scoring 28 goals and 53 points in just 54 games. However, he had also missed nearly two months during the regular season while in Stage 2 of the program. This marked the second season in a row that Nichushkin had to be away from the team during a playoff run.
"I spent the last six months working hard every day," he said. "I have a team of people in Russia that I've been working with and we've made significant progress. I've made changes to my lifestyle and how I approach my workouts in the gym. A lot of different things. I feel amazing. My mind is in a good place right now. Even today, I was worried it would be harder, but I feel pretty good."
Several of Nichushkin's teammates expressed their support and welcomed him back with open arms. General Manager Chris MacFarland had also shared positive reports about Nichushkin during his time in the program. "I've been in Denver for the last month, and spending time with the guys has been amazing," Nichushkin said. "It's been a tough time for me, so I'm just trying to enjoy it right now. The guys have been incredibly supportive since day one. It's been a huge help for me."
In his first game back, Nichushkin had one shot on goal and played for 19:27 minutes. He was part of the second line alongside center Casey Mittelstadt and wing Jonathan Drouin, who was also making his return after being injured on opening night in Las Vegas.
"I thought he did a decent job," said Avs coach Jared Bednar about Nichushkin's performance. "I thought the same about Drouin. I wasn't expecting perfection from them."
When asked if he felt it was time to move on with Nichushkin's return, Bednar replied, "Yes, I do. Now, he just needs to stay on track and hopefully have a successful season and continue to be a key player for our team."
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