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Fans blindsided by major Valeri Nichushkin health twist ahead of Tuesday's clash with the Canucks
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche finally saw Valeri Nichushkin skate as a full participant Monday, giving the team and its fans a welcome burst of momentum as injuries linger around the top six. The big winger worked on a line with Brock Nelson and Ross Colton, a trio that hints at immediate plans.
Nichushkin looked sharp throughout drills, using his reach to protect pucks and driving the net with the confidence that marked his 53 point season in 2022. Coach Jared Bednar kept expectations measured, yet he admitted Nichushkin has a real chance to rejoin the lineup Tuesday if he clears one more morning skate.
Valeri Nichushkin was a full participant at Avalanche practice yesterday.
Aarif Deen from Colorado Hockey Now writes that the Avalanche have been juggling bodies for days. Nathan MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog and Nelson all took maintenance Monday, leaving practice short on star power and heavy on temporary placeholders. Nichushkin's presence helped stabilize things, and his two way game remains vital.
The timing matters because Colorado has struggled recently with rush defense and inconsistent zone exits. Nichushkin's board work improves those areas, and his ability to trap defenders early helps the Avalanche regain their layered forecheck that drove their best stretches last season.
The Avalanche felt thin on reliable middle six pressure without Nichushkin. Some fans wondered if the group leaned too heavily on Mikko Rantanen and MacKinnon for transition plays, and adding Nichushkin should ease that demand. His north south style always brings structure, which has been missing during recent wobbles.
His potential return also forces softer matchups for Colton and provides Nelson with a puck retriever who can open the slot. Nelson, drafted in 2010 and sitting on 19 points this season, benefits from linemates who extend possessions. Nichushkin fits that need perfectly at age 30.
Colorado sits firmly in the Central Division race with a 14 8 1 record, but the margins are thin. The returning winger could help restore some balance before the upcoming stretch of divisional games. If Tuesday becomes his season restart, it arrives at the ideal moment for a team needing weight and calm in its structure.
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