DENVER (AP) 鈥� Suspended Colorado forward Valeri Nichushkin was added to the Avalanche's active roster and will make his season debut Friday night against Washington.
Nichushkin recently returned to the team of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program six months ago. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Friday after the morning skate that Nichushkin's 鈥渋n a good spot, and we鈥檙e excited to have him back.鈥�
The suspension of Nichushkin was announced in the middle of Colorado's playoff loss to Dallas. It was the second straight postseason the 29-year-old Russian right winger was unavailable because of circumstances away from the ice. He also abruptly left the team in a 2023 first-round playoff series against Seattle for what was described as personal reasons.
In May, Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay. The stage 3 designation of the league鈥檚 player assistance program means he violated terms of the program that provides help for everything from mental health needs to substance abuse.
The Avalanche sit at 9-8 despite missing Nichushkin and being hit early by injuries.
鈥淗e鈥檚 our friend. He's a great guy to be around,鈥� forward Nathan MacKinnon said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 just a great teammate, obviously a hell of a player. Really, really happy he鈥檚 back, and it鈥檚 a big boost for us for sure.鈥�
Nichushkin is under contract through the 2029-30 season after signing an eight-year, $49 million contract with the team in 2022. He had a career-best 28 goals last year in 54 regular-season games.
鈥淪eeing him here every day, he鈥檚 in a good place right now,鈥� defenseman Cale Makar said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 done the work for the last six months or so. It鈥檚 great to see where he鈥檚 at now. It seems like he鈥檚 a happy guy. So it鈥檚 good.鈥�
MacKinnon echoed that thought.
鈥淟ooks great. He鈥檚 healthy. He鈥檚 happy,鈥� MacKinnon said. 鈥淪eems like he鈥檚 in a great mood and great place. I鈥檓 sure he鈥檚 really excited to do what he loves again.鈥�
The banged-up Avalanche are trending closer and closer to full health, with Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Miles Wood (upper body) returning Friday against the Capitals. The Avalanche are still missing Ross Colton (broken foot) and captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee), while goaltender Alexandar Georgiev is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Landeskog, who turns 32 on Nov. 23, has been sidelined by a knee injury since helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022. He underwent a cartilage transplant procedure in his knee on May 10, 2023, in an effort to return.
There's still no timetable for when Landeskog may play. But on Friday Landeskog was gliding around the ice at practice and went through some puck-passing drills.
鈥淯sually when he鈥檚 out there, you start wondering what it would be like to have him back,鈥� Bednar said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not quite there yet, but I think anytime he gets on with the ice with our guys, and he鈥檚 around the room more, it helps.鈥�
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AP NHL:
Pat Graham, The Associated Press
