On Wednesday afternoon, as the trade deadline nears, Valeri Nichushkin’s name started showing up as a potential trade piece for the Colorado Avalanche. Fans await a significant move, with the deadline approaching rapidly. However, this move shouldn’t be the Avalanche’s. Getting Nichushkin off the roster will do more harm than good.

The harm

Nichushkin has become a vital part of Colorado’s core over the last few years. He is often a threat on the ice, drawing attention to himself rather than to Nathan MacKinnon or Brock Nelson. His noted sacrifice during the 2022 Stanley Cup run is something that most fans will never forget. He played with multiple fractures in his foot during the Finals, often unable to walk after the games.

Valeri Nichushkin’s Instagram post after winning the Stanley Cup in 2022.

His relentless forecheck has become key to the Avalanche, while Logan O’Connor recovers from hip surgery this season. Over the last couple of seasons, Nichushkin’s production has declined. In 51 games this season, Nichushkin has produced only 12 goals and 24 assists. Prior to last season, most of his goals were on the power play. As most Colorado fans know, Nichushkin has been a regular on the second unit, which gets hardly any ice time.

This year, Nichushkin has been a key part of the second line. As he plays on the wing of Nelson, he has been driving to the net or passing the puck to American. His big body provides a screen in front of the goaltender that allows others to get the shot off and create scoring opportunities. We have also seen that when he is with the team during playoffs; he lights the ice up. In 37 playoff games over the last four seasons, he has had 30 points.

It is risky and a gamble for any team

A big reason that I find it hard that other teams are interested in him is because of his past. After the Stanley Cup, Nichushkin has entered the NHL Player Assistance program twice. He violated the terms of the program and was suspended for six months in 2024. The next violation will be a one-year suspension.

The payoff could be worth losing Nichushkin. It would “re-stock the cupboard,” but the Avs would lose a valuable asset to do it. It would expose MacKinnon and Nelson on the second-line and the forecheck would be down to Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Kiviranta once they come back. If Nichushkin can stay healthy through the playoffs, both mentally and physically, Avalanche fans know what he is capable of.