Valeri Nichushkin who is still serving his 6-month suspension could return to the Avalanche lineup by November 15th.
The last time fans got a glimpse of Valeri Nichushkin was back on May 11th during Game 3 of the Avalanches' 2nd round playoff matchup against the Dallas Stars. That game would be his last, as the talented Russian forward was suspended for 6 months and placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association player assistance program prior to puck drop before Game 4.
Nichushkin, 29, entered stage 3 of the program after violating the conditions of stage 2 of the program, which carries that minimum of a 6 month suspension.
Now, after serving the majority of that 6 month suspension, Nichushkin was able to rejoin his teammates at practice on Monday but still remains unable to play. Nichushkin will be eligible for reinstatement on November 13th, in which Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said the hope is Nichushkin could be in the lineup on November 15th when the team takes on Alexander Ovechkin and the surprise Washingon Capitals at Ball Arena.
"Need all the help we can get," explained Bednar, who received news a few days ago that Nichushkin could return to practice. "Every guy we get back in, things start to shape up a little bit the way we want them to look."
The Avalanche having Nichushkin back at practice is certainly a welcome sight, as the team has been decimated with injuries so far this season. Still without captain Gabriel Landeskog as he continues to try and return to the Avs after being out the last two years, the Avalanche have also seen key forwards in Ross Colton, Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wood lost to injury. The Avalanche were also without Artturi Lehkonen, who just made his season debut last game against the Seattle Kraken after missing the first 13 games of the season while rehabbing from off-season shoulder surgery.
Nichushkins' return is expected to give the Avalanche a lift offensively, as he was nearly a point-per-game player for the Avalanche last season, scoring 28 goals and 53 points in 54 games played.
When Nichushkin does return to the lineup for the Avalanche, there will be no hard feelings from his teammates with how he left them at such a crucial time last spring when they needed him the most.
"I don't think there's anything that really needs to be said," Makar said. "I think Val is one of those guys he's going to put the work in, and you've got to trust that. If he wants to lean on us, we can always help him.
When Nichushkin does make his debut he will be joining a Avalanche team that has managed to stay afloat despite all the injuries and shakey goaltending, with a 6-7 record for 12pts, just two points out of the last wild card spot in the standings.
