No... the interviews mean nothing with regards to the contract. Just shows the massive disconnect here.Could these interviews help in termination of contract if we actually went that route?
Feels like a really strong indicator that Nuke doesn't think anything is wrong with his behaviour and will just continue doing it.No... the interviews mean nothing with regards to the contract. Just shows the massive disconnect here.
It is just a matter of time. If he's not terminated by the Avs immediately, there will be a point in the next year or so where he gets popped again and has a 1 year suspension. Hopefully he's out of the organization by that time so at least the Avs can reallocate their cap.Feels like a really strong indicator that Nuke doesn't think anything is wrong with his behaviour and will just continue doing it.
The interview is out and for everyone to read. If the AVS know that what he says is bullshit, they have proof and a legal ground to go for termination.
Nuke's drug of choice is cocaine. There are rumors of MDMA too, but coke is the big one. Like pretty much every NHLer, Nuke has been given opioids before. It would not be shocking if he's abused them before, he is an addict after all. He got popped for coke though.It's amazing to me, that so many people are so quick to defend the team here, as if they are saints in heaven or something.
I don't believe parts of Val's story (the fact that he had nothing to do with the drunk hooker is particularly not believable). But please humor me for a moment, and allow me to throw out a scenario. Purely hypothetical.
What if what Nichushkin said in that interview is 100% true? And then let's add this tidbit to it: What if what Nichushkin is addicted to, is in fact pain killers? And what if the reason he's addicted, is due to the huge amount of them that Avs team doctors overprescribed to him during the 2022 Stanley Cup run, so he could stay on the ice with his foot/ankle injury?
We still don't know the whole truth, but in my life experience, there's always three sides to every story, and I suspect there is here also. Nichushkin's version, the Avs' version, and the truth.
I do believe that. He is exhibiting numerous characteristics of an addict, something I am very familiar with.Nuke's drug of choice is cocaine. There are rumors of MDMA too, but coke is the big one. Like pretty much every NHLer, Nuke has been given opioids before. It would not be shocking if he's abused them before, he is an addict after all. He got popped for coke though.
The whole interview likely has snippets of truth, but it is a story to clearly shift the blame from Nuke.
I've long said that, and it goes way beyond the public sphere of things.... they are not without blame here. They could get players help quicker, not try to convince them to not enter the PAP, not hide everything they can etc etc. In this case though, none of that would matter. Nuke is a trash human, doing trash things. Avs could have handled this perfectly, and it would still end up the same. Nuke is the guy who in his early years in Dallas asked the Stars staff find him hookers.What I don't believe, is that the Avs are some kind of angel organization that was fully committed out of the kindness of their hearts to helping Nichuskin in Seattle.
Even if Nichushkin may be a scumbag, even if the Avs don't like what he said in an interview, they're still handcuffed by the program protocol, yes? Which means they can sit and stew and steam about it, but can't really do anything about it?I've long said that, and it goes way beyond the public sphere of things.... they are not without blame here. They could get players help quicker, not try to convince them to not enter the PAP, not hide everything they can etc etc. In this case though, none of that would matter. Nuke is a trash human, doing trash things.
Even if Nichushkin may be a scumbag, even if the Avs don't like what he said in an interview, they're still handcuffed by the program protocol, yes? Which means they can sit and stew and steam about it, but can't really do anything about it?
Short of taking on a cap hit, what immediate options do they have?
I honestly hope that Nuke and his family decide they like being in Russia better and a mutual termination occurs. Love the guy on the ice, he's one of my favourites, wish him all the best and hope he finally moves out of this pre-contemplative state and starts taking action to help himself, but he can't be on the team anymore.Immediate options... not much. The buyout window is over. They can trade, but Nuke has a full NMC for this season, so they'd have to work with him to move. They can try to work with him to mutually terminate, that's about the only option today and requires working with Nuke. They can terminate the contract by themselves the day it is reinstated (which will end up in arbitration).
None of that means though that the Avs will stick this out. They might in the interim, but it is very clear the relationship is fractured and only a matter of time.
It reads to me of a guy that really doesn't think anything he has done is wrong and that he really doesn't need to change anything. Again, I think it would be best for everyone if Nuke and his family decide to stay in Russia and he signs with the KHL.To me the best part of this whole interview saga is the denial, denial, make up stories, nothing to see here... then popped within a few weeks with a 'party drug' failure. So obviously full of shit.
And going by the interview it is easy to assume that he will be very hard to "work with" when it comes to trading him (because of his NMC) or terminating his contract (he will want as much money as he can get).Immediate options... not much. The buyout window is over. They can trade, but Nuke has a full NMC for this season, so they'd have to work with him to move. They can try to work with him to mutually terminate, that's about the only option today and requires working with Nuke. They can terminate the contract by themselves the day it is reinstated (which will end up in arbitration).
None of that means though that the Avs will stick this out. They might in the interim, but it is very clear the relationship is fractured and only a matter of time.
I doubt Nuke and his family see it that way. He's due 8m, before his suspension this year. Even after that is mid to high 6s. Then 7.3m next year. Odds are high that if he can keep from getting suspended that his ~8m in take home far surpasses what he could pull for a KHL salary. Now if he gets suspended again for a whole year without pay... then we may have a different equation.It reads to me of a guy that really doesn't think anything he has done is wrong and that he really doesn't need to change anything. Again, I think it would be best for everyone if Nuke and his family decide to stay in Russia and he signs with the KHL.
Don't disagree with you at all, I think he's in it for the money. I just don't see a clean break from this situation for anyone. It sucks because Nuke is such a perfect Avs player and he seemed like such a likeable guy.I doubt Nuke and his family see it that way. He's due 8m, before his suspension this year. Even after that is mid to high 6s. Then 7.3m next year. Odds are high that if he can keep from getting suspended that his ~8m in take home far surpasses what he could pull for a KHL salary. Now if he gets suspended again for a whole year without pay... then we may have a different equation.
One thing is for sure, Avs PR is pretty good at presenting good images to the public.Don't disagree with you at all, I think he's in it for the money. I just don't see a clean break from this situation for anyone. It sucks because Nuke is such a perfect Avs player and he seemed like such a likeable guy.
Doubtful... if he's fulfilling the obligations of the program, they can't do a thing. I'd be shocked if he wasn't at least doing that (no matter how minor or BS they are).Maybe the interview can't be used against him, but I wonder if the photos of him traveling around the world can? He's supposed to be rehabbing, but instead he's on vacation. Hopefully the Avs can put together some form of breach of contract case and jettison his contract off the team.
The next thing you're going to tell me is that Cale is actually the embodiment of all that is evil.One thing is for sure, Avs PR is pretty good at presenting good images to the public.
Doubtful... if he's fulfilling the obligations of the program, they can't do a thing. I'd be shocked if he wasn't at least doing that (no matter how minor or BS they are).
The next thing you're going to tell me is that Cale is actually the embodiment of all that is evil.
I highly doubt the rehab program means you have to sit at home, doing nothing like serving an open prison sentence.Maybe the interview can't be used against him, but I wonder if the photos of him traveling around the world can? He's supposed to be rehabbing, but instead he's on vacation. Hopefully the Avs can put together some form of breach of contract case and jettison his contract off the team.
I mean he was buying slurpees(sugar) after getting his big contract.The next thing you're going to tell me is that Cale is actually the embodiment of all that is evil.
Added an important part that you seemed to forget to include.Don't disagree with you at all, I think he's in it for the money to pay for his powder. I just don't see a clean break from this situation for anyone. It sucks because Nuke is such a perfect Avs player and he seemed like such a likeable guy.