Report: Valeri Nichushkin Re-Signs With Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are trying its best to keep their Stanley Cup Championship team together. Colorado is moving a step in the right direction by re-signing forward Valeri Nichushkin to an eight-year deal worth $49 million. The contract carries a salary-cap hit of $6.125 million. The first three years carry a modified no-movement clause. The final five years see a 12-team no-trade caluse.

Hearing that the Cup champion Avalanche have agreed to an 8-year extension with Valeri Nichushkin. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 11, 2022

Valeri Nichushkin Remains With Colorado

Ever since arriving in Colorado, Valeri Nichuskin has been an excellent fit. The 10th overall pick from the 2013 NHL Draft had a career season with the Avalanche playing a vital role in their championship run. In 62 regular-season games, he finished with 52 points including recording his first 25-goal season. This was his best performance since his rookie season with the Dallas Stars. Nichushkin was just six points shy of his total 58 points combined over the last three seasons. He has come a long way since he recorded zero goals and zero penalty minutes in 57 games with the Stars.

Nichushkin was on a value deal for the Avalanche making just $2.5 million last season. Now he has a slight bump, but the Avalanche can afford it with so much salary-cap space. But with the way, Nichushkin plays, he will never take a shift off. Considering what he went through just to get back to this level.

A lot of this can be credited to Joe Sakic and Jared Bednar believing in Nichushkin. Every season under Bednar, Nichushkin’s play only rose. During the Avalanche’s run to the Stanley Cup, Nichuskin took his game to new heights. In 20 games in the playoffs, Nichushkin recorded 15 points (nine goals and six assists). In addition, Nichushkin recorded several big goals for the Avalanche during their run to the Stanley Cup.

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What Lies Ahead

With Nichushkin’s new deal executed, the Avalanche will turn their attention to finding a second-line center. They need one with Nazem Kadri heading to free agency. Nichushkin saw his role increase playing top-six minutes with the Avalanche this season. Those minutes will increase playing alongside top players like Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. But as Nichushkin has shown he can play anywhere in the lineup for Bednar.

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