The Colorado Avalanche have signed free agent forward Valeri Nichushkin to a one-year contract. The deal is one-way worth $850k.
Nichushkin, 24, played in 57 games for the Dallas Stars last season while battling some lower-body injuries. When healthy enough to play, Nichushkin recorded just 10 assists and didn’t tally a single goal.
The 6-foot-4 210-pound winger has had a tumultuous career, after making the Stars as an 18-year-old and posting a promising 34 point rookie season in 2013-14. His sophomore season was limited to just eight games due to a nagging groin injury that would require surgery and keep him off the ice for the majority of the year. A solid bounce-back year in 2015-16 flashed some of the promise Dallas had hoped to see from him, but once the year was through Nichushkin opted to leave for the KHL when contract negotiations broke down and alleged dislike of the coaching situation in Dallas boiled over.
After two years of good but not great hockey in the KHL, Nichushkin decided to come back to North America. Dallas retained his rights for the 2018-19 season and signed him to a two year $2.95 million dollar deal. He was ultimately bought out by Dallas at the end of last season, opening him up to the free agency market.
Nichushkin is another reclamation project added to an Avalanche roster that is already fairly tight. If he can shake the injury bug, he may be able to carve out a role for himself in the NHL. Nichushkin marks the 13th signed forward on the NHL roster for the Avs with Mikko Rantanen still left to sign. Competition on the wings should be fierce in training camp and it will be up to him to earn his keep.
As usual, some fancy stats:
0 Comments (7 conversations)
Bgravel
Weird signatures for sure !? Something brewing for Sakic … another trade !?!!? Or no faith in the Kids like Kaut ,Bowers ,LOC too play this yr !?
AvsFinn
Sure smells a bit like another trade coming. Hope it’s Jost.
downvalleyavsfan
I’d love to hear from you and AJ about the upside of this move. Is there real potential there? It seems they’ve got a logjam already. Who does Nichushkin replace? How are they going to find time for all these guys?
Hockeyhead
Scratching my head on this one. Is there an upside? His injury history doesn’t sound good. Why not wait and offer him a PTO. It seems like the log jam of bodies grows in front of our young home grown drafted players who need a chance. It seems like something will have to give somewhere.
Sunfunbun
I believe the Avs scouted Nishoosh in Nate’s draft year, as he went overall no. 10, and probably saw upside that has never quite developed or perhaps more accurately, improved, after his rookie season. 34 points is a decent point total.
Sakic is hoping the guy just needs a different environment to excel, and felt it was worth signing him, perhaps giving the Avs flexibility of having him on the roster and going to the Eagles, if need be, explaining why they didn’t PTO him. His NHL experience and big body and decent skill level could be a plus if he beats out other players. As an offense first player, I think Joe may have looked at the Dallas’ Ruff and Montgomery D mentality first not fitting Nischushkin’s style, and thinking maybe Bednar can use him better.
Hockeyhead
Very possible, training camp will be super competitive with the avs newfound depth. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
Nathan Rudolph
AuthorI’m certainly not sold on any of it and talked about it on today’s pod. I’m sure AJ will have plenty to say when he returns tomorrow as well.
Bob_W
I do not think the Avs should be concerned with making a place for Kaut, or Greer or anybody else in their development system. When training camp opens there will be competition for places on the team. The guys who step up will make the team and the ones who do not won’t. That is as it should be. That is the way Sakic and the coaches want it to be every year. The players who show they are ready to pay in the NHL and are able to beat the competition will play.
Cerveau
Thanks Nate!
As for the fancy stats: lovely pictures… nice colors, pretty blues and pinks, and I can make out the goal boxes, but what does it all mean?
Nathan Rudolph
AuthorIn short
Offense: Bad
Defense: Actually pretty good
earl08
So, basically won’t help, but also won’t hurt. Bednar’s Gabe Bourque #2
Rich
Nothing to worry the top prospects are so young they will get their chances at different points throughout the season. This is a low risk with a high reward signing with a team making a big push towards a Cup.
Eidolon
Bednar doesn’t seem at all interested in promoting during the season.