Valeri Nichushkin's future in the NHL has been uncertain since his suspension. After a stellar performance in the playoffs, scoring 10 points in nine games, Nichushkin abruptly left the Colorado Avalanche during the second round against the Dallas Stars. He failed a drug test, was suspended for six months by the NHL, and entered the third phase of the Player Assistance Program, damaging the team's trust in him.
Chris MacFarland, the Avalanche's General Manager, addressed this issue during his end-of-season press conference. He stated that terminating Nichushkin's contract is not currently an option, though rebuilding trust will be challenging. MacFarland added that it's very possible Nichushkin could return to the Avalanche.
While no team wants to be linked with a player who has faced such issues, terminating contracts isn't straightforward. The Avalanche could consider buying him out, but this would negatively impact their salary cap. Trading him would also be difficult due to his $6,125,000 annual average value contract, a no-movement clause, and his tarnished reputation.
