Avalanche Film Room: Nichushkin's 200-foot impact

When the Avs signed Valeri Nichushkin on August 19 in the dead of the summer, it was met with a lot of skepticism (myself included).

Why did the Avs, as deep as they had been in years, decide to take a chance on a struggling player? Why would they block younger players already in the organization? Why was this reclamation project different from the previous failures?

Turns out, they were right…but it didn’t always look that way. After not scoring at all in his 57 games in Dallas last season, things didn’t start out much better in Colorado. Although he was doing a lot right and creating chances, nothing was going in for him. With no goals and just two assists through the first 18 games, it was looking like more of the same for the 25-year-old Nichushkin. Once he finally broke through onto the scoresheet on November 23, his season took off.

Scoring isn’t what got Nichushkin into the good graces of the coaching staff. What did that was his relentless work in all three zones. Scoring helps, however, and after that goal against Toronto, he put up 25 points in his next 48 games and almost certainly locked down an extension whenever things get going again.

In this piece, we’ll take a look at a little bit of what makes Nichushkin so good all over the ice, and why the Avs may have hit the jackpot with this reclamation project.

RIP Duncan Keith’s Groin

Sure, Duncan Keith isn’t the player he once was in his prime, but he can still skate. Or he can until a 6’5″ Russian missile comes right at him.

As much as that first goal of the year for Nichushkin got his season going, it was this one that really appeared to boost his confidence. Can you believe this is a guy who went 90+ games without a goal?

It all starts in the defensive zone with a lost face-off. The value of face-offs is a hot debate because a lot can happen after you win or lose one. Nichushkin blows by the winger, who made no effort to slow him down, and basically eliminates the face-off win immediately. From there, we get a real look at just how explosive a skater he is, as he puts on the jets immediately and blows by not one, but two defenders who were not ready after their center won the face-off.

A lot of this play is just plain effort, as Nichushkin was ready to go right off the face-off when the Chicago winger wasn’t, and that’s how the entire play started. This is just one reason why Nichushkin gained so much trust from the coaching staff.

Only Matt Calvert, among the regular forwards, started fewer shifts in the offensive zone, and yet Nichushkin had far and way the Avs best GF% at 71.93%. He really was a safety valve for the staff because they knew he could eliminate dangerous chances against.

BACK PRESSURE EXTRAORDINAIRE

This should have been a nothing play, easy dump in for the Red Wings. But some good back pressure from Nichushkin helps force a turnover, and doesn’t allow the Wings to get a full line change. Let’s break it down further…

At the top, you’ll notice a few of the Wings players change, but because of how things played out, not everyone was able to get off the ice. In this play, Nichushkin works hard to create some back pressure on the Wings forward carrying the puck. Ryan Graves, the defender for the Avs, recognizes Nichushkin is coming back, and is able to close the gap because he has help, creating the turnover.

From there, Nichushkin wiggles his way through the neutral zone, and instead of dumping the puck in and giving up possession, holds onto it, and uses his massive frame to protect the puck from the Wings defender. After working off the boards, he hits Erik Johnson in the high slot to keep the possession going.

In case anyone was wondering, 20 seconds after this play ends, the Avs scored on the same possession because the Red Wings players couldn’t all get off the ice. That simple back pressure from Nichushkin that helped Graves step up doesn’t look like a ton, but it created chaos and led to an Avs goal. That’s the type of back pressure forwards like Nichushkin were creating consistently that was helping the Avs become one of the better defensive teams in the league.

RUSSIAN GONNA GET YOU

This is the type of play that will get you ice time, and in this one, it got Nichushkin double shifted.

Nichushkin does well to pick up a rebound and get it out to the point for a shot, but when the shot is blocked, he goes to work. Not only was Ian Cole caught on this one, but Erik Johnson pinched in on the backside, so the only player back was J.T. Compher.

No need to worry, the Russian missile’s got you. Nichushkin wastes no time getting on his horse and eliminating any chance of an Islanders rush, closing the gap on Mayfield in no time, knocking him off the puck, and starting the transition the other way.

This is the exact type of play that won’t show up on the scoresheet but shows what makes Nichushkin so valuable.

THE HUNT

On this one, Nichushkin is definitely not the closest guy to the puck when it goes into the corner, but he’s the first there. Barzal sees him coming but doesn’t want any of that smoke, as Nuke just outworks him to get there first. From there, he just uses his frame to shield the puck until he can create enough room to get a shot off, which creates a good rebound chance.

Again, this starts off with pure effort, and from there, Nichushkin uses his god-given talents and goes to work.

FORECHECK GOAL

Hey look, another lost face-off. And look, it doesn’t matter again, because Nichushkin is ready to go the second the puck drops.

On this one, Kadri loses a rare face-off, but that’s when Nichushkin goes to work again, giving Ron Hainsey, someone who has his issues moving the puck, no time to think and pressures him almost immediately. That pressure catches Hainsey off guard, and a smart stick by Nichushkin forces a turnover to Burakovsky.

At that point, the turnover has caused so much chaos between the Senators defenders that they panic and attack Burakovsky, leaving Nichushkin all alone on the far side, and he can take his time with a perfect shot. These are not plays that everyone can create, and is just one example of why Nichushkin had the best shot metrics on the Avs. He creates chaos and doesn’t allow the other team to even get started.

At this point, it’s not a matter of if Nichushkin gets an extension with the Avs, but when. And as this film room has illustrated, he’s more than earned one.