The Colorado Avalanche are getting a key piece of their top-six forward group back tonight, as Valeri Nichushkin returns to the lineup against the Vancouver Canucks. After missing several weeks with a lower-body injury sustained on November 11, Nichushkin is set to rejoin a team that’s been rolling in his absence - and that’s putting it mildly.
There was no need for a roster move to activate Nichushkin, as he was never officially placed on injured reserve. And while his absence could’ve been a major blow to most teams, the Avs barely flinched.
Since Nichushkin went down, Colorado has gone 7-0-1, building on an already dominant start to the season. With an 18-1-6 record, their only regulation loss came all the way back on October 25 against the Bruins.
That’s a full month of near-flawless hockey.
Nichushkin was initially ruled week-to-week, but signs of his return have been building over the past few days. He’s no stranger to time away from the ice - whether due to injury or stints in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program - but when he’s healthy, he’s been a force.
Ankle issues cost him much of the 2022-23 season, and he missed 21 games last year with another lower-body injury. Still, when he’s out there, he makes an impact.
Since his breakout year with Colorado in 2021-22, Nichushkin has quietly become one of the NHL’s most effective two-way forwards. Over the past five seasons, he’s put up 198 points (96 goals, 102 assists) in 226 games while averaging close to 20 minutes a night.
That’s a 0.86 points-per-game clip, ranking him 58th among players with at least 100 games in that span. His +54 rating?
That’s good for 27th - a testament to how much he drives play at both ends of the ice.
This season, his production has cooled a bit. He’s posted 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 17 games, with a 0.77 points-per-game pace since the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
That dip coincides with the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog, who’s reclaimed a big chunk of ice time after missing multiple seasons. As a result, Nichushkin’s average time on ice has dropped to around 18 minutes per game - still a solid workload, especially considering the depth Colorado is working with.
And make no mistake: even with slightly reduced numbers, Nichushkin remains a tremendous value at a $6.125 million cap hit. He’s in the fourth year of an eight-year deal, and his ability to impact the game without always lighting up the scoresheet is exactly the kind of depth championship teams are built on.
His current line with Landeskog and Brock Nelson has been one of the most effective in the league at tilting the ice. According to MoneyPuck, that trio has controlled 60.7% of expected goals - a dominant mark that speaks to their ability to generate chances and limit opponents.
But then again, that’s been the story across the board for Colorado this year. No matter how the lines are shuffled, the Avs are dictating play.
Getting Nichushkin back only adds to that momentum. He won’t need to carry the offense - not with the way this team is playing - but his return gives Colorado another elite option in a lineup that’s already humming. If he can stay healthy, the Avs just got even tougher to beat.