Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin Suspended for at Least 6 Months, Enters NHL's Player Assistance Program
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in stage 3 of the league’s player assistance program before Game 4 on Monday night of a second-round series with Dallas.
The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association announced the news about an hour before the start of the game with the Stars.
This is the second time this season he’s been in the program.
Stage 3 means Nichushkin violated the terms of the program.
The 29-year-old Russian forward will miss the rest of the postseason and the first month next season at a minimum.
His teammates heard the news as they arrived at the rink Monday night before a 5-1 loss to the Stars that pushed them to the brink of elimination.
They were outshot by a 16-2 margin in the first period and trail the best-of-seven series 3-1. Game 5 is Wednesday in Dallas.
Nichushkin leads the team with nine playoff goals this season.
“Val is obviously struggling with something,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said after the game. “Yeah, it sucks for our team.
We’ve got to turn the page. We’ve got to go play way better than we did today.
There’s still 20-plus guys in that room that care and want to win and that are here.
That’s what we have to focus on. It hurts our team.
Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin Suspended for at Least 6 Months, Enters NHL’s Player Assistance Program
There’s no question.
He’s a great player.”
Bednar wasn’t willing to travel down the path when asked if Nichushkin may have let down the team.
“I’ve gotten to know Val as a person and I’ve gotten to know him as one of our teammates and I want what’s best for him,” Bednar said.
“I want him to be happy and I want him to be content in his life, whether that is with our team or not with our team.
I want the best for him and his family. I think all of our guys are the same.
We hope that he can find some peace and get help.”
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