I’m not sure I ever expected the Valeri Nichushkin return to ramp up this quickly. Over the past few months, it became more obvious that the Avalanche were going to welcome him back if all went well. It was clear that the team — whether they tried to move on from him or not — was accepting of the fact that they need Nichushkin as much as he probably needs them.
But then injuries happened. Gabriel Landeskog has been out for more than two years. But after the Nichushkin suspension, we’ve seen Colorado lose Artturi Lehkonen, Jonathan Drouin, and Ross Colton. Basically, any reasonable option to skate on the top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen is unavailable. And as a result, the Avs are 5-7-0 through 12 games.
I was blown away by the Bednar comments on Nichushkin over the past two weeks, specifically last Thursday at Family Sports. Again, it became apparent that he would be back. The top players on the team reaffirmed this during media day in mid-September. But Bednar has basically all but guaranteed that they’re going to fast-track him back into the lineup — something you don’t often see from the Avs’ bench boss.
“I don’t know exactly what the date’s going to be just yet, but we’re hoping it’s early this month,” Bednar said. “If he can join our team and start practicing early this month, which sounds like that’s a very good possibility. Then in our heads, we’re waiting for the 15th or 13th, or whatever they give us, somewhere in that range that he can play.”
Bednar went on to confirm that his communication with Nichushkin remains consistent throughout this process. The Russian forward has been back in Denver for several weeks and is skating on his own either before or after practice.
Valeri Nichushkin Skates After Team Practice
“From talking with Val, he feels like there’s no problem. He’ll be ready as soon as they clear him,” Bednar said. “So he’s going to have a little bit of time with our team to practice before he’s cleared to play. That can’t hurt him either. Hopefully we get him back sooner than later.”
So he’s just going to jump right in? This is a coach who often turns a day-to-day injury into multiple weeks because he prefers his guys get ample practice time to set them up for success. It’s not that I disagree with the idea of Nichushkin playing so quickly, it’s that it’s not how Bednar usually operates.
This begs the question: Do the Avalanche’s struggles make it easier to welcome him back?
There’s an alternate universe where Colorado isn’t dealing with so many injuries. A universe where Alexandar Georgiev returns to his 2022-23 form and the Avs are one of the better teams in the league. Maybe they’re 8-4-0 through 12 games. Or perhaps 9-3-0.
In that reality, are they fast-tracking Nichushkin back into the lineup? In that reality, would the players accept him as easily?
I remember on media day when MacKinnon told us he wasn’t waiting for any type of apology from Nichushkin upon returning. He just wanted him happy, healthy, and back to being the dominant force he is — the one-of-one power forward that complements the Avalanche’s core so well. It almost sounded back then like MacKinnon had decided for the rest of the team that welcoming Nichushkin back was a given.
“Nothing. I don’t think we need to hear anything,” MacKinnon said. “I can’t speak for everybody, but when he gets back I’m sure he’ll be in awesome shape like he always is. He was playing great when that happened. So yeah, I don’t really need to hear anything.”
That was still just one person. The others all said the right things, too. Whether it was Devon Toews, Cale Makar, Drouin, or Bednar. But I can’t help but wonder how this would all have played out if the Avalanche were winning more games. Eventually, Nichushkin would still be back. I don’t think the team had any other options. But maybe they would’ve made it harder for him. Maybe they would’ve tried to navigate this in a way that made it more clear to Nichushkin that he needs the team as much if not more than the team needs him. But that’s no longer the case.
For those who have followed my writing or my podcast for the past five years, you know I’m probably Nichushkin’s biggest fan among local media. I can’t say enough good things about how he plays and how entertaining it is to watch this behemoth of a man battle up and down the ice. I’m a firm believer that this team isn’t the same without Nichushkin. The numbers speak for themselves. I also think management has to do everything it can to protect this asset — do whatever it takes to ensure Nichushkin going back to the NHLPA Assistance Program is not and never will be an option.
I’m still beyond excited to see him back in the lineup soon. But I just can’t help but ponder these thoughts. What say you?
This article first appeared on Colorado Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.
