Valeri Nichushkin skating by himself; Kaapo Kahkonen joins Avalanche at practice
On Saturday, the Colorado Avalanche announced that forward Valeri Nichushkin is back in Denver, working out and skating by himself as he continues to work through the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
Goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen is also joining the team, and will be practicing with the Avs for the first time on Saturday.
UPDATE: Kaapo Kahkonen has arrived in Denver and will practice with the team today.
Valeri Nichushkin has also arrived in Denver and will begin to workout and skate on his own. He remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program.
Nichushkin is still in Stage 3 of the program, and is ineligible to return to game action.
The 29-year-old entered the program last January, marking the second time in a calendar year that he took a leave of absence. He also left the Avs during their 2023 playoff series against the Seattle Kraken. He would later return to the team in March, but in May, it was reported that Nichushkin failed a drug test, leading him to be placed in the program’s third stage. With that, he was suspended without pay for a minimum of six months.
The Russian winger is in the third season of an eight-year deal, which carries a $6.125 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season, with a modified no-trade clause.
In 2023-24, Nichushkin scored 28 goals and 53 points in 54 regular-season games, adding 10 points in eight playoff games before he was removed from the lineup. In 512 career appearances, he has notched 116 goals and 158 points, including 36 points in 80 postseason games. Nichushkin was a key part of Colorado winning the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Kähkönen arrives in Denver after the Avs claimed him off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets last week. The Finnish netminder signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Jets this past offseason. However, the team elected to have veteran Eric Comrie backing up Connor Hellebuyck, leading to Kähkönen being put on the wire.
Kähkönen started 2023-24 with the San Jose Sharks but was traded to the New Jersey Devils for Vitek Vanecek later in the year. In 139 career appearances, he has a record of 49-67-15 with a 3.33 goals-against average, a .899 save percentage and four shutouts.