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Valeri Nichushkin Skates After Team Practice
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Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin skated with skills coach Toby Petersen and another staff member on Friday after the team finished its practice at Family Sports in Centennial.
Head coach Jared Bednar said Nichushkin has been skating at the practice facility for a couple weeks but is not yet allowed around the team until the NHL clears him.
The 29-year-old Russian was suspended on May 13 for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players’ Association player assistance program.
“Not allowed to be around our guys yet, and we’re hoping that date’s coming quick. So I don’t know exactly what the date’s going to be just yet but we’re hoping it’s early this month,” Bednar said after practice on Thursday. “So that would put him ready — like if he can join our team and start practicing early this month, which sounds like that’s a very good possibility — then we’re, in our heads, like waiting for the 15th or 13th or whatever date they give us, somewhere in that range, that he can play.”
No matter the team’s personal position in the 6-foot-4 forward’s return, his presence on the ice has been missed and will be welcomed back.
“We welcome back with open arms. He’s a teammate of ours, a friend of ours and we wanted him to get the help he needs to feel better about himself as a person, as a man,” Devon Toews said on media day, Sept. 18. “And then we’ll welcome him into our team when he’s willing and able to. We want him to be happy, healthy, strong, and be a good person. As long as he’s coming in, and doing that, and trying to help our team win, and be a good person and a part of this team and this organization, then I think we’re happy with it.”
Nathan MacKinnon said he does not need Nichushkin to address him upon his return. The elite forward focused on his teammate’s talent and ability to help the team win.
“When he gets back, I’m sure he’ll be in awesome shape like he always is. He was playing great, obviously when that happened so yeah I don’t really need to hear anything,” MacKinnon said on media day.
Nichushkin missed about two months last season when he was in Stage 2 of the player assistance program but put up 53 points in the 54 games he played. He also tallied 10 points in the eight Stanley Cup Playoff games he participated in before being removed from the team and suspended.
Nikita Prishchepov, Seventh-Round Pick, Poised to Be Third Player from 2024 Draft to Make NHL Debut
Cale Makar Named 1st Star of the Month
Saying all the right things out loud, but you have to wonder what’s in their hearts. Nuke has been a big part of this team in the past, but I think he needs to earn back their respect, and trust come playoffs.
“We welcome back with open arms. He’s a teammate of ours, a friend of ours and we wanted him to get the help he needs to feel better about himself as a person, as a woman.”
So many weird things going on in the world at the moment that I accidently read that sentence wrong.
Not that I know what´s ailing N.
I hope he will be ok.
What are you on about? Why would you change the last word from “man” to woman” when you typed it out and leave it like that?
Everytime Val comes back it’s like reconciling with an ex you once were madly in love with. You psyche yourself up & try to convince yourself that things will be different this time. But in your heart of hearts you know it’s only going to end in crushing disappointment & heartbreak lol.
Sincerely,
Chris McFarland
Can’t wait to hear the news that kylington and georgiev get traded.
Yes! What are you thinking here? Maybe a little 2 for 2 with Boston. Swayman and Zadorov with Bruins retaining 90% of their salaries. How have we not pulled the trigger already!
Sarcasm or no, the correct answer to that is simply..YES.
There’s a much higher chance both get put on waivers at some point. Neither have any real trade value.
If they need the cap space, which they presumably will at some point they’re probably going to have attach a mid – round pick to Georgiev to get rid of him. No team is taking him just to take him, why would they?
He literally doesn’t upgrade your goaltending tandem if you’re any team. As a matter of fact he actively would make it less reliable.
I would trade kylington for 6th rd and georgiev and a 4th for a 6th. Or just dump him in the minors.
You can’t get any of that. Noone is taking on either contract for the price of a draft pick. Best trade chance is something like Brannstrom. We get a player who will never play but we pay their salary.
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