Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has been placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players’ Association player assistance program. This decision was made just hours before the team’s playoff game against the Dallas Stars. Nichushkin will be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months under the terms of the program. It is unclear why he was admitted into the program.
In Nichushkin’s absence, the Avalanche turned to forward Jonathan Drouin, who returned to the lineup after missing all of Colorado’s postseason games due to a lower-body injury sustained in the regular-season finale.
The player assistance program has four stages, with Stage 3 carrying a suspension without pay for at least six months. This is Nichushkin’s third absence in the past 13 months. His previous absence was in mid-January for undisclosed reasons.
Nichushkin, a first-round pick by the Stars in 2013, has spent time with both Dallas and Colorado. He signed with the Avalanche in 2019 and has since become an important player for the team. His future with the Avalanche remains uncertain as he undergoes treatment in Stage 3 of the program.