HE IS GONE: Colorado Avalanche star player has been suspended for……

The NHL has given Colorado Avalanche player Valeri Nichushkin a minimum six-month suspension.

The league announced that news on Monday night, about an hour before the Avs and Stars played in Game 4 of their

Round 2 playoff series.

Nichushkin is enrolled in NHLPA and NHL Player Assistance Program Stage 3.

“Nichushkin will be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months under the terms of the joint program, after

which he will be eligible to apply for reinstatement,” the league stated in a news release.

A year ago, Nichushkin left the Avalanche from a hotel in Seattle, missing the last five games of their Round 1 series

against the Kraken. Although there was body camera footage, a police report, and a 911 call, the specifics were still

unclear. A Russian woman at the time reported to authorities that her passport had been stolen by a “bad man.”

The league did not sanction Nichushkin for the event.

Nichushkin refused to discuss the incident at training camp prior to the start of this year.

“We need to concentrate on the fact that it’s a new season,” Nichushkin stated in September. “I don’t want to talk

about it, so let’s end it.”

Earlier in the season, Nichushkin was also in the Player Assistance Program and was not with the club. At the time,

he promised to resolve his problems “once and for all.”

The Avalanche will be without Nichushkin for the remainder of the playoffs as they fall behind the Stars 2-1 in the

series. At the earliest possible time, he will return in November of 2024–25.

Valeri Nichushkin led Colorado with nine postseason goals in eight playoff games prior to Monday night.