The Colorado Avalanche are facing a setback, as forward Valeri Nichushkin will be sidelined for an unspecified duration due to a lower-body injury. Head coach Jared Bednar indicated after Thursday’s morning practice that Nichushkin is currently classified as “day-to-day.”
Bednar mentioned, “I don’t think it’s really serious, but it could keep him out seven to ten days.” With the Avalanche set to take on the Buffalo Sabres that evening, Bednar expressed hope that they could assess Nichushkin’s condition over the next few days to understand his recovery progress better.
Nichushkin has been an integral part of the team when healthy, contributing significantly during games. The Avalanche boasts an impressive record of 209 wins, 74 losses, and 27 overtime losses with him in the lineup. Despite limited appearances this season, he has tied for fourth on the team with 11 goals in just 21 games.
Last May, Nichushkin faced a suspension of at least six months and was placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, an unfortunate announcement that coincided with the Avalanche’s playoff journey. This marked the second consecutive postseason where Nichushkin was unavailable due to off-ice issues.
The 29-year-old missed the first 17 games of the current season and finally made his debut on November 15 against the Washington Capitals. The Avalanche recently welcomed back defenseman Josh Manson and forward Jonathan Drouin but have now lost Nichushkin, who exited during a win against the Winnipeg Jets on New Year’s Eve.
Manson commented on Nichushkin’s absence, saying, “Hopefully it’s short for Val. That’s a big loss. He’s a big part of our group.” The team is also optimistic about the return of their captain Gabriel Landeskog, who was seen skating with the team for the first time. Landeskog has been out of action since the sixth game of the Stanley Cup Final on June 26, 2022, when the Avalanche secured the championship against Tampa Bay.
Landeskog underwent a cartilage transplant in his right knee on May 10, 2023, as part of his rehabilitation efforts. Coach Bednar noted, “All the guys are pretty in-tune with Landy’s recovery process, and the work he’s been putting in to try to get back to our team on a regular basis.” Landeskog’s recent skating appearances have added a sense of optimism concerning his potential return.
Bednar shared that Landeskog is “feeling good” but maintained, “Still no real change in our approach and what’s going on. He’s going to keep grinding forward until he gets to a point where he might be able to join the team on a regular basis.”
In other team news, the Avalanche announced a two-year contract extension for defenseman Keaton Middleton. During their morning skate, the fire alarm unexpectedly went off, prompting Drouin to remark, “That might be a first for me.” He reminisced about similar incidents from his junior days at smaller rinks that required immediate evacuation. There was some lighthearted speculation that the alarm might have been triggered by Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram, who was traded from Colorado to Buffalo last March, with Drouin joking, “I could see Bo doing something like that.”
