MONTREAL — Eight months after missing a majority of the Avalanche’s season-ending playoff series against the Seattle Kraken for what the team deemed “personal reasons,” Valeri Nichushkin has entered the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program.
The league and players association announced his entry into the program in a joint statement on Monday.
Nichushkin missed Colorado’s game on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was not on the ice Monday morning before the Avs’ game against the Canadiens at Bell Centre. Avs coach Jared Bednar had previously said he was under the weather before the game in Toronto.
“I have made the decision to seek help and enter the players assistance program,” Nichushkin said in a statement released by the Avalanche. “My goal is to address my issues and prevent any negative outcomes once and for all. I want to thank my wife and family, my friends, the Avalanche organization and all of our fans for their understanding and support. I will do everything I can to get back on the ice and join my teammates as soon as possible.”
Nichushkin is the second Avs player to enter the program during the 2023-24 season. Defenseman Samuel Girard was away from the team for a month, and missed nearly six weeks’ worth of games after seeking treatment for severe anxiety and depression that led to alcohol abuse.
“It takes a lot of guts to be able to do that,” Bednar said after Monday night’s loss to Montreal. “(Nichushkin) is struggling through a time right now. We wish him the best, but we’re going to miss him. No question. But we’re there for him.”
This is also the second time Nichushkin has left the team in the past eight months. The veteran forward missed the final five games of a first-round series loss to the Kraken last April. What led to that absence — Nichushkin left the team before a police report surfaced indicating an intoxicated woman in need of medical assistance had been found in his Seattle hotel room prior to Game 3 — has never been confirmed by the club. But Bednar and the team welcomed him back “with open arms” at media day before training camp began this past fall.
Bednar was asked earlier this month about the uncertainty with Nichushkin at the start of the season.
“Uncertainty would be from an outside perspective,” Bednar said. “I saw Val before I left here for the summer, and he was already doing great after he took care of himself and came back. I felt like Val was going to have a huge summer with training. He was finally through all of the injuries, etc.
“I really don’t have any concerns with him. … We haven’t had to really address anything with him or with Girard coming back from (the) same kind of deal. I feel like both guys are in a really good spot. They’re feeling great mentally and physically, and they’re both playing really well.”
Nichushkin is in the midst of a career season. He has 22 goals and 42 points in 40 games — a pace that would produce new personal bests in both categories.
He got off to a slow start, but has been one of the league’s top scorers since his daughter, Anna, was born in early November. His 21 goals are third in the league since Nov. 8, and he’s been a critical part of the club’s recent surge despite missing other key regulars from the lineup.
“As much as this is our career, family comes first and health comes first and well being,” Avs defenseman Devon Toews said. “We’re hoping he gets the help he needs. We’ll obviously miss him.”
Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.
