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NHL Trade Rumors: Top insider Chris Johnston provides latest on Avalanche's plans to move $49,000,000 forward
The Colorado Avalanche had Valeri Nichushkin on ice for just 54 regular season games last season. Currently, the winger is in Stage 3 of the NHL's Player Assistance Program. From the sounds of things, the team has no plans to entertain the idea of potentially trading him until his suspension is up in November.
The news comes on the heels of Valeri Nichushkin being placed in Stage 3 of the NHL's Player Assistance Program back in May. After helping give the team a lift against the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, Nichushkin played three games in the team's second-round matchup with the Dallas Stars.
Then, just hours before he and the Avalanche took to the ice for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he was placed in Stage 3 of the league's Player Assistance Program.
As a result, Nichushkin was hit with a six-month suspension that will cause him to miss the early stretch of the upcoming season. According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, the Avalanche are still hoping for the best. This week, Johnston gave an update on the situation during a recent episode of his podcast:
“And then you have Valeri Nichushkin, who is in stage three of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He can’t play before November under the terms of that arrangement. The Avalanche are telling teams right now, ‘We’re not trading him during this window.’ They’re hoping to help rehabilitate the player and the person.”
Looking at ongoing Colorado Avalanche-Valeri Nichushkin saga
The NHL's Player Assistance Program is designed to help players and their family members deal with things such as substance abuse and mental health problems. The program has four very clearly defined tiers, none of which require the league to disclose details to fans and media members.
In the case of Valeri Nichushkin, he is currently in Stage 3, which means he violated Stage 2 of the program. As a result, he was automatically hit with a minimum six-month suspension without pay. In addition, he has to apply for reinstatement.
While it's unclear what exactly caused him to enter the league's Player Assistance Program, this isn't Nichushkin's first time being involved in controversy.
During last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, he left the team under strange circumstances. This was after Avalanche physician Bradley Changstrom found a woman under the influence in Nichushkin's hotel room.
The team chalked his surprising absence up to family reasons. However, this year, he wound up missing two months of the regular season. That then led to him being placed in Stage 3 of the Player Assistance Program during the Avalanche's second-round series with the Stars.
As to what the future holds for Nichushkin, we'll have to wait for November to find out.
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