The Colorado Avalanche’s injury woes continue as head coach Jared Bednar revealed Wednesday that forward Valeri Nichushkin has suffered a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury.
Guerilla Sports' Jesse Montano shared a clip of Nichushkin skating with the rest of the team on Sunday and looking poised for a quick return.
Following Bednar's comments, however, Nichushkin is now classified as week-to-week, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, leaving his timeline for a comeback uncertain.
"He's an impact player on any line that he plays on and has a huge impact on special teams, too. One player of that caliber makes a big difference,” Bednar said on Wednesday. "Unfortunately, he's had a setback with his injury and is not close to coming back soon."
Nichushkin, 29, has been sidelined since Dec. 31 after sustaining his current injury during a game against the Winnipeg Jets when he logged just 11:54 minutes of playing time before leaving the ice.
Initially labeled day-to-day, Nichushkin appeared close to rejoining the lineup but this setback could keep him out until February if no longer.
The Russian winger has endured a challenging season as he couldn't join the Avs until Nov. 15 because of a six-month suspension related to the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
Despite missing significant time this season, Nichushkin has scored 17 points (11 goals, six assists) in just 21 games, ranking fifth on the team in points per game at 0.81 and sixth in total goals scored.
Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) and right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) celebrate a goal.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Avalanche have been streaky this season, putting together runs of multiple wins or losses for the first half of the season. That said, the team has been a bit inconsistent of late on a daily basis.
Colorado has alternated wins and losses from Jan. 2 through Saturday after losing back-to-back games against the Wild on Monday and the Jets on Wednesday.
The Avs have a 28-19-2 record, sitting fourth in the Central Division but holding the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with a seven-point advantage over Calgary.
