After leaving Avs two years in a row in playoffs, GM has faith in Valeri Nichushkin

Apr 16, 2025, 2:23 PM

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A year ago, the Colorado Avalanche were getting ready to host the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Avs were down 2-1 in the series, but had a great opportunity at home to even the series back up. Just hours before puck drop, the NHL world received a massive bit a breaking news that shook up the series.

Valeri Nichushkin, for a second consecutive year, was no longer with the Avalanche in the postseason, this time because he was placed in Stage 3 of the Player Assistance Program for the NHL and NHLPA.

Heading into this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Avalanche have their best shot to win the Cup since they did so for the third time in franchise history in 2022. They have depth in all lines, are as healthy as they’ve been in years heading into a playoff run and have two superstars playing hockey at the highest level of their careers in Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

However, this team can’t win another Cup without the contributions of Nichushkin. This season, he has tallied a career-high in shooting percentage and scored the second-most goals per game in his 10-year-career.

On Wednesday, Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland showed that he has faith in the winger to be around for his team this season.

“I have the utmost faith in him that he’s in a great place and will continue to grind it out here for us and be a good player,” MacFarland said.

In the 2022 run, Nichushkin had the third-most goals on the team and the fifth-most points in the 20 games the team played en route to the mountaintop. In three games without him in the 2024 playoffs, the Avs scored just five goals in 11 periods. In 2023, the Avs scored 10 goals in five games without him (16 periods).

His presence is way too important on the offensive end of the ice for the Avs to be without for another postseason run, and MacFarland knows that.

“On the ice, I think Val’s a force … He’s a unique, powerful two-way winger that touches every part of our game, 5-on-5, power play, penalty kill. His importance is vital,” MacFarland said.

Nichushkin only played in two of the matchups against the Stars this year as he missed a large chunk of the season due to injury. However, his presence was felt on the ice both times, as he scored a goal in the loss in November, and tallied a goal and an assist in the Avalanche victory in March.

MacFarland also gave a short update on captain Gabriel Landeskog on Wednesday, but didn’t say if he would make his NHL return in the postseason or not.