The Colorado Avalanche will be missing forward Valeri Nichushkin for an unknown amount of time because of a lower-body injury.
Coach Jared Bednar shared after practice on Thursday that Nichushkin’s situation is “day-to-day.”
“I don’t think it’s really serious, but it could keep him out seven-to-10 days,” Bednar said. He added that they would monitor his recovery over the next few days to see how he improves.
Nichushkin has been an important player for the Avalanche when he’s healthy. The team has a record of 209-74-27 when he’s in the lineup. He’s tied for fourth on the team this season with 11 goals, even though he’s played in only 21 games.
Nichushkin was suspended last May for at least six months and placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. This announcement came during Colorado’s playoff run, marking the second consecutive postseason where Nichushkin couldn’t play because of personal matters.
The 29-year-old missed the first 17 games of the season and made his debut on November 15 against Washington.
Recently, the Avalanche welcomed back defenseman Josh Manson and forward Jonathan Drouin, but now they’ve lost Nichushkin, who left the game against Winnipeg on New Year’s Eve.
“Hopefully it’s short for Val,” Manson said. “That’s a big loss. He’s a big part of our group.”
On a positive note, the Avalanche saw their captain Gabriel Landeskog return to the ice on Thursday, skating with the team. Landeskog hasn’t played since Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, when Colorado defeated Tampa Bay.
Landeskog had a cartilage transplant in his right knee on May 10, 2023, to help him get back on the ice.
“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,” Bednar said. “He’s able to come out and join us and wheel around a little bit. I think it adds to the optimism of his return at some point.”
Bednar mentioned that Landeskog is “feeling good.”
“Still no real change in our approach and what’s going on,” Bednar added. “He’s just going to keep grinding forward until he gets to a point where he might be able to join the team on a regular basis.”
