Val Nichushkin's Suspension Raises Questions About Future with Avalanche

On May 13th it was announced that Val Nichushkin was placed in Stage 3 of the Player Assistance Program of the NHLPA and NHL.

Under the terms of the joint program, Nichushkin was suspended without pay for a minimum of six months and will be eligible to apply for reinstatement after the suspension period.

The news shocked the Colorado Avalanche ahead of Game 4 and ignited a lot of questions about the Player Assistance Program.

Nichushkin entered the program on January 15th, 2024. He was cleared to practice on February 26th and entered the follow-up care phase of the program which meant that care continued to be administered pursuant to the program.

The NHLPA’s Senior Director of Communications Jonathan Weatherley reported that they don’t have anyone available right now for an interview, so there are still many lingering questions about Colorado’s possible course of action, but he did provide information about the program incorporated below.

The program is collectively bargained and has been in existence since around 1996. It was previously called the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health program and is funded and collectively administered by the NHL and NHLPA.

It also provides resources to family members and retired players up to five years post-retirement.

Two administrators run the program on a day-to-day basis, one appointed by the NHLPA (Dr. Joel Gold) and one by the NHL (Dr. Dave Lewis).

Gold is the consulting psychiatrist to the NHLPA and has served as Bellevue Hospital’s Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services and their Director of the Psychiatric Outpatient Division.

According to ASAPFamily.com, Lewis is certified in Addiction Medicine as well as by the American Association of Medical Review Officers. He’s also the Founder and Co-Director for the National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, and National Hockey League Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Programs.

The program provides players with assistance when confronting challenges in their lives around substance abuse and addiction, mental health, gambling, and family matters.   

Players who need help speak with the program administrators. Depending on the circumstances, the player may be then referred to a counselor, medical professional or other treatment provider.

The program has a network of medical professionals in each NHL city, and beyond, and players are put in contact with the appropriate resource for whatever issue they need help with.

Players receive annual education on the benefits provided by the program. 

Colorado’s NHLPA representative Logan O’Connor said that they go over a range of topics from the CBA to the Olympics and that  “there’s always little things that come up within the league to keep guys up to date with.”

O’Connor added that they met in-season to discuss the NHLPA’s new initiative, First Line – an education and leadership program developed to strengthen members’ mental health knowledge and skills.

Players are encouraged to reach out to the program administrators before a problem becomes serious and they learn when an evaluation may be required like in the event of a serious health and safety concern. Players can also seek confidential help by calling a 1-800 number 24/7.

 Here are the Program’s Stages: 

Stage One – First in-patient treatment; no penalty.

Stage Two – For violation of Stage One treatment plan, suspension without pay during active phase of treatment and then eligible for reinstatement.

Stage Three – For violation of Stage Two treatment plan, suspension without pay for at least six months and then eligible for reinstatement.

Stage Four – For violation of Stage Three treatment plan, suspension without pay for at least one year.  Reinstatement not assured.

There’s a lot of speculation around Nichushkin’s situation. It’s not clear what his future in the organization looks like.

“Val is obviously struggling with something,” Jared Bednar said. “I have two thoughts. Yeah, it sucks for our team… There’s still 20-plus guys in that room that care and want to win and that are here. That’s what we have to focus on. It hurts our team. There’s no question. He’s a great player.

And the second one is I’ve gotten to know Val as a person and I’ve gotten to know him as one of our teammates and I want what’s best for him. I want him to be happy and I want him to be content in his life, whether that is with our team or not with our team. I want the best for him and his family. I think all of our guys are the same. We hope that he can find some peace and get help.”

“And our team is another one,” Bednar added. “Now they are separated. They’re not together. He’s done for six months plus, whatever that looks like…  We have to worry about the guys who are on the ice and able to play for us.”

Nichushkin signed an eight year contract extension through 2030 in July of 2022. His contract carries a cap hit of $6,125,000. He won’t be considered for reinstatement before mid-November of next season.

Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland will speak at the conclusion of the season and it will be an inevitable topic of discussion because so much remains unclear about the situation.