Which brings us to the harder conversation: What do you do next if you’re the Avalanche?
Nichushkin is wrapping up the second season of an eight-year, $49 million contract. In case people are wondering, a league source said what has transpired here does not constitute grounds for the Avalanche to consider a contract termination. A league source also confirmed that Nichushkin will not count on the Avalanche’s salary cap while he’s suspended over the next six months. But if he’s cleared from Stage 3 in six months, his contract goes back on the cap. That could be around November.