SEATTLE — Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Valeri Nichushkin’s absence from the team is indefinite as of Sunday afternoon, as there is no timeline for the Avs forward to return.
Nichushkin did not play in Colorado’s Game 3 win over the Kraken on Saturday night. He is out due to personal reasons, Bednar said, and is no longer with the team in Seattle. The Avs face the Kraken in Game 4 on Monday (8 p.m. MT, TBS).
Nichushkin had 47 points in 53 regular-season games, and he scored Colorado’s game-tying goal in a 3-2 win in Game 2 of the first-round series. He’s signed with the Avalanche on an eight-year contract through 2029-30, with a $6.125 million average annual value.
Nichushkin did not join the team Saturday for pregame skate Saturday morning at Climate Pledge Arena. At the time, he was deemed out for maintenance.
Matt Nieto took his place on the second line in Game 3. After the game, Bednar told reporters that Nichushkin’s absence was not team discipline related.
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