Valery Nichushkin again hit the main pages of the media. Unfortunately, due to a sad reason. The Russian forward for the Colorado Avalanche is out of action indefinitely and will miss part of the National Hockey League season. During his absence, the forward will undergo an assistance program provided by the NHL to players who need treatment for alcohol or drug addiction, as well as various psychological problems.
It is unknown exactly what difficulties Nichushkin encountered. This information was not indicated in official press releases from the league and Colorado; the player’s agent, Mark Gandler, also refrained from commenting. A number of media outlets suggested that the hockey player may have problems with alcohol. At the moment, these rumors remain as such and have not been confirmed. Valery himself stated that the decision to seek help was his initiative.
“”I have decided to seek help and participate in the NHL Player Assistance Program. I intend to solve my problems and prevent any negative consequences once and for all. I thank my spouse, family, friends, the Avalanche organization and everyone for their understanding and support fans. I will do everything in my power to soon return to the ice and join my teammates,” the Avalanche press service quotes Nichushkin as saying.
Valery already missed Colorado's recent match with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The meeting ended with the Avalanche winning with a score of 5:3, and the head coach of the Denver club, Jared Bednar, in response to a question about the absence of the Russian striker from the lineup, said that he “was not in a good mood” before the game. The Colorado coach did not make any other statements related to Nichushkin’s health. Even before today's match with the Montreal Canadiens, on the eve of which a statement was published about Val's participation in the NHL player assistance program, Bednar said that he could not share any information.
The last nine months have become for Nichushkin too rich. At the end of April, the Russian left Colorado right during the first round playoff series against the Seattle Kraken. The Avalanche were eliminated as a result, losing with a score of 3-4, and Nichushkin’s absence from the lineup was shrouded in a secret fog.
Officially, Valery left the club for personal reasons. However, the press claimed that a drunk girl was allegedly found in his hotel room in Seattle, who later ended up in the police department. Nichushkin’s agent in an interview several times denied such information, as well as the player’s involvement in the incident. The NHL also refused to investigate the Russian and did not interfere with his play in the new season. Before him, by the way, Valery himself stated that the reason for everything was family circumstances and demanded that American journalists close this topic, emphasizing that if the Avalanche had made it to the second round of the playoffs, he would probably have taken part in the games.
What happened to Valery now evokes only feelings of sadness and compassion. At least because of the very fact that Russians have difficulties and problems. Nichushkin has already overcome many major barriers in his career. And when it seemed that he had left them behind and rushed to success, new obstacles appeared in front of him.
This season should have been Valery's absolutely best in his overseas campaign. The Russian forward is the leader of Colorado and one of the leading players in the entire NHL. In 40 matches, he scored 42 points, scored 22 goals and made 20 assists. According to all forecasts, Valery was supposed to set new personal records; he was on schedule for 83 points for the season. He had never gained even close to that much. Nichushkin’s play on someone else’s dime is a standard. Only the lazy don’t talk about his influence on the team’s results. In addition, in November he and his wife had a daughter. From the outside everything looked so beautiful and magnificent, but alas. We can only hope that Valery will successfully overcome this obstacle.
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