Avalanche’s Jared Bednar reveals what he will do with Valeri Nichushkin upon his return

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin is eligible to return to the team in November once his 6 month NHL suspension concludes. The Russian forward was suspended a ‘minimum of 6 months’ by the NHL back in May and ordered into Stage 3 of the NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program, an addiction and behavioral health recovery program.

You’ll remember that Nichushkin was originally removed from the Avs’ roster after a strange interaction with an unnamed woman in a Seattle hotel room back in April, 2023. The woman was heavily intoxicated to the point where she required medical attention. Paramedics arrived on the scene to find a distraught Ukranian-born woman who knew barely any English. She claimed that a ‘very bad man’ stole her passport and identification. The Avalanche’s management team was then accused of covering things up for Nichushkin. There’s still not any clear indication on what exactly transpired that evening.

As Nichushkin is working hard to try to resolve those problems, head coach Jared Bednar spoke about his eventual return on Thursday and explained how the team would react to him coming back to the dressing room.

Bednar said that the Avalanche will welcome Val Nichushkin back “with open arms”. Per Jesse Montano, the bench boss added that he thinks Val has some things he probably wants to say to the group, and that “there has to be some forgiveness” with the whole situation.

It does not feel like Nichushkin has burned a bridge he cannot rebuild with his teammates though he has had to leave his team twice in the past two seasons for treatment and was most recently handed a stiff suspension from the NHL for violating the terms of his program.

While he let his team down in a major way during their second round playoff series against the Dallas Stars when he earned himself the long suspension with reports that it came as a result of a failed drug test, it seems like the Avalanche players and staff are ready to support him and welcome him back when the suspension gets lifted.

Nichushkin is listed on the Avalanche’s training camp roster, but he is not eligible to participate or play in regular-season games until mid-November. As of now, he remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.