In brief bursts Friday night at Ball Arena, a rowdy crowd told Valeri Nichushkin all is forgiven.
They cheered. They clapped. And they shouted “Choo!” when he handled the puck a minute into the game. While the “open arms” proclamation from the Avs organization and teammates deserves scrutiny, there was no question the fans welcomed Big Val back into their embrace.
The warm vibes practically melted the ice when the Avs scored two minutes into the game against the Washington Capitals.
The entire thing feels weird. And let’s be clear, we wouldn’t be here if Val wasn’t so good.
The Avs are really doing this again, taking this roller coaster for a third ride after Nichushkin cleared the protocols of Stage 3 of the NHL player assistance program, ending his six-month suspension.
The risk is clear. Nichushkin submarined the past two playoff runs, sent home during a first-round exit to Seattle in 2023 and banned hours before the puck dropped in Game 4 of the club’s second-round series against Dallas, leading to another premature elimination.
Now, he is back. This is not a stunt. It is a must. With Gabe Landeskog skating but revealing no timetable for returning — what kind of impact will he have if he does come back? — the Avs need Nichushkin. He is rocket fuel to their engine, even if the odds suggest he will let down the Avs again. Nobody wants that, but it is hard not to think about it.
At the age of 29, Nichushkin deserves another chance to be defined by something other than off-ice disappointment. But did it have to be with the Avs?
They gave him an opportunity after the Seattle debacle, and, at the worst possible moment, he suffered another lapse in judgment.
The fans rooting for him makes total sense. They want another downtown parade and that only happens with Nichushkin in uniform. Since the 2021-22 season, the Avs are 48-41-5 without him, an 88-point season pace. With him, they are 118-35-16, a 122-point pace that would annually win the President’s Trophy.
Nathan MacKinnon had no issues bringing the troubled star back into the fold after two weeks of practice. MacKinnon is the league’s best player, a hockey robot, who has always been more concerned about winning than feelings.
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“It’s good for the team. He’s our friend. He’s a great guy to be around. A great teammate,” said MacKinnon of Nichushkin, who logged seven shifts and five minutes in the first period on Friday. “A hell of a player. Really happy he’s back. It’s a big boost for us.”
A boost? Yes. A great teammate? Yikes.
Mikko Rantanen spoke bluntly about Nichushkin, saying the quiet part out loud.
“Well yeah, a good player. And that’s what we need. That’s all it is, you know,” Rantanen said. “We really need him.”
There remains a nuanced distinction with Nichushkin. It is possible to feel compassion while also holding him accountable. When Sam Girard entered the player assistance program, his honesty, his pain, made us sad.
When Nichushkin entered for the third time, it made us mad. That is not fair when widening the lens and looking at his life. But it is an emotion impossible to avoid when looking at him on the ice, and what his presence means to this team.
He is a bit of a unicorn. At 10:32 a.m. Friday, Nichushkin lined up with the Avs’ second power play unit at practice, working like a shark with no wasted movement before rapping the puck into the net with a magician’s hands.
“He is very unique. There are not many guys in the league with his size and skating ability, his strength and speed and can finish like he does,” coach Jared Bednar said. “The 200-foot game is exceptional. So I would say it’s very rare.”
Early observations, though, made it hard to see this time differently. There was an expectation that Nichushkin was going to talk around 11 a.m. after the morning skate. An opportunity to show contrition, briefly discuss his health and earning back trust of his teammates. His presser after his return a year ago lasted roughly 90 seconds. He was never going to bare his soul. Just acknowledge a mistake and show gratitude for continued support.
Instead, he took off his gear, put his skates on his chair and vanished.
To be clear, he does not owe the media a news conference. But he should feel an obligation to his organization and teammates. Every time he ducks out, they end up answering for him and talking about him.
This becomes irritating, even if no one will admit it.
In baseball parlance, you don’t leave the second baseman to explain why the closer blew the save.
The length of Nichushkin’s contract — the eight-year deal runs through the 2029-30 season — provides cover for the Avs. He is difficult to trade without eating a huge chunk, and any acquiring team would be reluctant given that another suspension could result in a lifetime ban.
Keeping Nichushkin on the team in a significant role was the easiest path forward. But he has a lot to prove. And it feels odd, uncomfortable.
Ultimately whether the Avs are right hinges not on the cheers, but whether he can stay on the ice and reward their trust.
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