NHL
Why was the Russian player Valeri Nichushkin suspended for six months?
The Colorado Avalanche ace has been suspended for half a year without pay and placed in phase 3 of the league’s player assistance program.
The Russian hockey player was fined just a few hours before the fourth game of the Western Conference semi-finals of the NHL against the Dallas Stars at home, which Colorado lost convincingly 1-5.
Neither the league nor the club wanted to reveal the reasons for the suspension, but some US media reported that Nikushkin failed a drug test.
“Val is clearly struggling with something. Yes, it’s bad for our team. We have to turn the page. There are still more than 20 players who care and want to win and are here. That’s what we have to focus on,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said, and certainly was on point considering the ongoing playoffs and their series against Dallas.
From mid-January to the beginning of March, Nikushkin was already in the player assistance program, missing 22 games. He also missed the last five games of the Avalanche last season. Stage 3 means the 29-year-old Russian has violated the terms of the program. Nikushkin arrived in Colorado in June 2022, signing an eight-year contract worth $49 million.
He finished the regular season with 28 goals and 25 assists in 54 games and has already scored nine goals in the playoffs. In total, he scored 116 goals and 158 assists in 512 games of the NHL regular season. Before coming to Colorado, he played for the Dallas Stars, CSKA Moscow, and Traktor from Chelyabinsk.