If you missed it, a major controversy struck the Colorado Avalanche yesterday. Valeri Nichushkin, who's been the Avs best player since the playoffs started, has been suspended for six months by the NHL, for breaching a condition of the Player Assistance Program.
What we know is that he failed a drug test during an intermission.
According to Frank Seravalli:
Since the news came out, Avalanche players were asked to comment on the situation, and some of them weren't too happy.
Nichushkin let his teammates down by making a poor decision, and we could see that some of them were pissed off in interviews.
Jack Johnson, 37, is one of the most respected veterans in the team. He commented on the situation, saying that the player made his own decision:
Colorado didn't waste too much time before removing Nichushkin's nameplate in the locker room, showing their anger and disappointment towards the player.
Do you think Valeri Nichushkin's career in the NHL is over?
POLL | ||
MAI 14 | 830 ANSWERS Avalanche veteran throws Nichushkin under the bus after suspension Do you think Valeri Nichushkin's career in the NHL is over? | ||
Yes | 603 | 72.7 % |
No | 227 | 27.3 % |
LIST OF POLLS |
G | A | PTS | ||
Mikko Rantanen | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
Jake Debrusk | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Dylan Guenther | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Connor McDavid | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Ivan Barbashev | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Jack Eichel | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Brock Nelson | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Valeri Nichushkin | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Clayton Keller | - | 3 | 3 | |
Anthony Cirelli | 2 | - | 2 | |
Jonathan Drouin | 2 | - | 2 | |
Roman Josi | 2 | - | 2 | |
Kirill Marchenko | 2 | - | 2 | |
Kyle Palmieri | 2 | - | 2 | |
Artemi Panarin | 2 | - | 2 | |
Sebastian Aho | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Evan Bouchard | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Leon Draisaitl | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Matt Duchene | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Complete stats |
STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 21 | 17 | 4 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 30 | |
Devils | 23 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 30 | |
Hurricanes | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 29 | |
Golden Knights | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 20 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 27 | |
Flames | 21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 27 | |
Stars | 19 | 13 | 6 | - | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 19 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 25 | |
Conference | Cumulative |