Valeri Nichushkin may have his contract terminated by Avalanche

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Josh Tupper
May 22, 2024 (2:29 PM)

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For the second year running, Valeri Nichushkin's departure from the Colorado Avalanche and enrollment in the Player Assistance Program handed the team a serious blow during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Colorado Avalanche, who were defeated by the Dallas Stars in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, had to deal with the loss of a player of Valeri Nichushkin's caliber. This time, it seems like the team is becoming more and more irritated with Nichushkin, who is currently in the third phase of the Player Assistance Program.

Since this is Nichushkin's second infraction, everyone is hope he receives the assistance he needs. He will also not be eligible for reinstatement until his six-month suspension is over in October. Nichushkin will stay with the Colorado Avalanche for the time being, but if he is reinstated, the team may choose to end his contract.

Since that this is the second time in as many years that he has let his team down, the Avalanche would feel that it would be only fair if they chose that course of action. In order for Nichushkin to move past all of this and concentrate on his hockey career, he also needs a new beginning somewhere else.

"Nichushkin, 29, cannot have his contract terminated while he is in the program, but it's possible once he is eligible for reinstatement. Will the Avs do that? There are six years and $30.5 million remaining. It sure seemed like listening to Nichushkin's teammates that, despite the addiction, he violated their trust two years in a row when the season mattered most. This isn't a bottom-six role player, this was the playoff leader in goals at the time of his suspension. He is a horse. And even if Gabriel Landeskog is back healthy to start next season, the Avalanche will have some work to do to rebuild their depth, which was clearly outclassed by Dallas." Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff said.

It appears like splitting up would be best for all parties involved, but we'll have to wait and see what they decide to do when Nichushkin becomes eligible for reinstatement by the National Hockey League in mid-October.