Avs winger one step closer to NHL return
Valeri Nichushkin is practising with the Colorado Avalanche after receiving care from the player assistance program.
The NHL and NHL Players' Association announced that Nichushkin entered the followup care phase after being away from the team since mid-january.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar said that Nichushkin's return to game action remains “to be determined.” He didn't accompany the team on an upcoming two-game trip.
“Mental health is so important,” Bednar said. “In any walk of life, you can't perform the way that you want to perform or live day-to-day the way you want to if you're not feeling right, and feeling positive mentally.”
The 28-year-old Russian became the second Colorado player to take part in the joint league-union program this season after defenceman Samuel Girard, who resumed playing roughly five weeks after entering it.
Washington's Evgeny Kuznetsov and Columbus' Patrik Laine remain in the program.
Colorado is 26-11-3 with Nichushkin in the lineup this season and 9-8-2 without him.
“It's awesome to see him around,” said defenceman Cale Makar. “Mental health comes first and hockey comes second, always ... At the end of the day, we're a family and we've got to support him.”
Nichushkin has 22 goals and 20 assists in 40 games this season.
He is two games away from reaching 500 regular-season contests for his career. He's also a big part of their power play.
“It's nice just having him in the right mindset,” forward Logan O'connor said. “He cleaned up that side of things and now having him a back is huge.”
Nathan Mackinnon echoed that thought.
“Great teammate, obviously awesome player,” Mackinnon said. “Look forward to getting him back in the lineup.”