Confirmed with Link: Nichushkin back in assistance program; suspended a minimum of six months

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Sucks all around. No idea what the substance was, whether it was PEDs or something else. Yeah, he kinda screwed them over again but I still hope he keeps getting help if he needs it on a human level.

It's all very vague. Six months starting now? Meaning he could be eligible to play again in November-ish?

Honestly it doesn't sound like he's interested in the help.

 

[famicommander]

save us Drouin

 

[Avsavsavsavsavs]

The Avs W-L without Nuke is abysmal since his tenure on this team. That is a major major gap in this roster going forward.

 

[avalanche_country]

I guess I can appreciate the new excuse I can use now why they lost the series

 

[hawk30]

well, that's two seasons down the toilet

 

[SuperJoe]

That's a rough one, get well Nuke and get lost.

 

[MaKarter]

Still love the man. Wish he wanted to get right but it's obvious that this is his lifestyle.

Let's beat the Stars.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

If the Avs dress him again, I will be tuning out.

I truly hope he gets the help he needs, for his daughter's sake if nothing else, but I'm kinda done with him.

 

[mack74]

A few of the other HF boards are saying their teams should take a chance on Nuke if the Avs terminate his contract. If I see him playing well on another team next season I might explode

 

[avalanche_country]

I few of the other HF boards are saying their teams should take a chance on Nuke if the Avs terminate his contract. If I see him playing well on another team next season I might explode

He would be cheap too

 

[missionAvs]

Wtf are you serious with this shit? I'm sorry but this should mark the end of his tenure with the Avs. f*** man. Love the player but availability is his biggest asset to the team. Hope Nuke, the person, gets the help he needs.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Suspension is 6-months minimum, so he wouldn't be able to return until the middle of November at the earliest.

 

[dahrougem2]

A few of the other HF boards are saying their teams should take a chance on Nuke if the Avs terminate his contract. If I see him playing well on another team next season I might explode

Well if his history is any indication, he'll sign with a new team then get busted again

 

[Mighty Makar]

Terminate his contract. I hope he gets the help he needs, but I hope he never plays another game in an Avs’ jersey.

 

[mack74]

Well if his history is any indication, he'll sign with a new team then get busted again

Yeah that’s the most likely outcome for sure, I have a feeling Murphy’s Law would come over to slap in us in the face though and he’d be fine for the rest of his career somehow lol. But yes this has to be the end of his tenure here, 3 strikes you’re out

 

[LazRNN]

I don't know what's going on with Val personally. Maybe never will. Hope he deals with it whatever it is. Whether he's ever going to play hockey in the NHL again seems in doubt.

From the Avs perspective it's obviously devastating, and probably going to spell the end of their playoff run (though they did once win a Stanley Cup without Peter Forsberg). If Val is suspended without pay I assume that means his salary is coming off the books for at least the beginning of next season, and at least until he is "reinstated".... it's hard to imagine what reinstatement means at this point.

 

[The Merchant]

And this dude wonders why he's been shunned from the entire hockey community.

 

[AvBuff]

2 years straight this guy has disappeared in the playoffs because he can't handle his business. Can't be trusted. Scramble the lawyers, cut him and move on.

I don't care if another team picks him up for a bag of pucks.

 

[Frenchy]

Unbelievable sleepless in seattle did it again !? Once again in the playoff ? f*** off !!
I have zero sympathie for him

Didnt they chose to get him under contract insted of Kadri ? Someone will have to be accountable for this mistake .

 

[Cypher]

I bet his contract gets terminated and no one will sign him, and back to KHL he goes., sadly. What a waste of a talent.

$6.125m freed up for Reinhart or Guentzel this summer I guess

 

[Drury_Sakic]

Wonder how the rules work with the players assistance program. Can they actually terminate his contract? Was this voluntary or forced?

Good bet if it was forced, the guy goes back to the KHL and lives the party life there and gets paid still.

 

[niwotsblessing]

 

[BrickNHL]

Wishing him the best but f*** this is frustrating

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Holy f***. What the hell. How again. No words..

 

[Foppberg]

Well, contending was fun.