Valeri Nichushkin
Nichushkin with the Dallas Stars in January 2014
Born (1995-03-04) March 4, 1995
Chelyabinsk, Russia
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Colorado Avalanche
Traktor Chelyabinsk
Dallas Stars
CSKA Moscow
National team  Russia
NHL Draft 10th overall, 2013
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2012present

Valeri Ivanovich Nichushkin (Russian: Валерий Иванович Ничушкин; born March 4, 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Big Val", "Nuke", and "the Chu Chu Train", he was selected by the Dallas Stars in the first round, 10th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Nichushkin won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.

Playing career

Early career

After one season in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Nichushkin transferred from Traktor Chelyabinsk to Dynamo Moscow on May 1, 2013. He then signed a two-year contract with Dynamo. However, the deal was terminated conditionally, allowing Nichushkin to play in the NHL, or return to Dynamo if he failed to make the NHL team.

NHL and KHL

Dallas Stars

Nichushkin played his first regular season NHL game on October 3, 2013, against the Florida Panthers.[1] He scored his first career NHL goal on November 3, 2013, against Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators.[2]

Following a strong rookie season, registering 14 goals and 20 assists, Nichushkin suffered from hip and groin soreness in the beginning of his sophomore campaign, 2014–15. Five games into the season, Nichushkin opted for hip surgery, which was performed on November 18, 2014.[3] He rehabbed in New Jersey and re-joined the team in March 2015, practicing in a red no-contact jersey.

CSKA Moscow

As a restricted free agent following the conclusion of his entry-level deal in the 2015–16 season, Nichushkin and the Stars failed to agree to common grounds in contract negotiations. Unhappy with his current role within the Stars line-up, his KHL rights were traded from Dynamo Moscow to CSKA Moscow on September 20, 2016. He subsequently signed a two-year contract to return to the KHL with CSKA, with his NHL rights to be kept by the Stars.[4]

Return to Dallas

After two seasons with CSKA, Nichushkin returned to the Stars organization, in agreeing to a two-year, $5.9 million contract on July 1, 2018.[5] In his return to the Stars in the 2018–19 season, Nichushkin recorded 10 assists in 54 regular-season games, averaging 11:55 time on ice per game. Nichushkin skated in one game during the playoffs with the Stars and failed to record a point.

After a disappointing 2018-19 campaign, failing to score a goal through 57 games, Nichushkin was placed on unconditional waivers by the Stars and subsequently bought out from the remaining year of his contract with the team on 30 June 2019.[6]

Colorado Avalanche

Nichushkin signed a one-year, $850k contract with the Colorado Avalanche on August 19, 2019. Nichushkin scored his first goal in 2 years on November 23, 2019. In his first season with the Avalanche, generally perceived to be a successful one, Nichushkin especially received high praise from many hockey analytics proponents for his high rankings in many metrics, especially defensive metrics. [7] Nichushkin finished the 2019-20 season with 13 goals and 27 points while leading all forwards in the NHL in defensive Goals Above Replacement. Such strong defensive play helped Nichushkin to receive votes for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, the award given to the best defensive forward in the NHL, finishing 8th in voting.[8]

On October 10, 2020, the Avalanche re-signed Nichushkin, who was a restricted free agent, to a 2-year, $5 million contract extension.[9]

In his third season with Avalanche, Nichushkin elevated in a top-six forward role, scored a career-best 52 points in 62 games, adding 15 points in 20 playoff games. He placed third on the team with 9 playoff goals to help the Avalanche claim their first Stanley Cup in 21 years.

On July 11, 2022, Nichushkin signed an eight-year, $49 million extension to stay with the Avalanche. The following season, Nichushkin continued his strong play with the Avalanche, recording 47 points in 53 games as Colorado won the division and matched up in the opening round of the playoffs against the expansion Seattle Kraken, who were making their post-season debut as a franchise. Nichushkin played in two games, recording one goal in Game 2. Shortly after, Nichushkin abruptly stepped away from the team for "personal reasons" amid an incident at a Seattle hotel. Nichushkin was found with an Eastern European woman suffering from severe alcohol intoxication; the woman was reported to be either a prostitute or victim of human trafficking.[10][11] Ultimately, the Kraken would claim an upset series victory, defeating the Avalanche in seven games.[11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2011–12 Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk MHL 3846106
2012–13 Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk MHL 94480
2012–13 Chelmet Chelyabinsk VHL 1582104
2012–13 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 184260 256390
2013–14 Dallas Stars NHL 791420348 61122
2014–15 Dallas Stars NHL 80112
2014–15 Texas Stars AHL 504412
2015–16 Dallas Stars NHL 799202912 100112
2016–17 CSKA Moscow KHL 361113249 91454
2017–18 CSKA Moscow KHL 5016112714 193694
2018–19 Dallas Stars NHL 57010100 10000
2019–20 Colorado Avalanche NHL 6513142714 152132
2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL 551011214 1012310
2021–22 Colorado Avalanche NHL 6225275214 2096158
2022–23 Colorado Avalanche NHL 531730472 21010
KHL totals 10431265723 531013238
NHL totals 4588813322156 6414112524

International

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2017 Germany/France
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place2013 Russia
Year Team Event Place   GPGAPtsPIM
2012 Russia U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 53360
2012 Russia WJC18 5th 62020
2013 Russia WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 611225
2013 Russia WJC18 4th 64370
2014 Russia OG 5th 5 1 0 1 0
2017 Russia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 0 3 3 0
Junior totals 23 10 7 17 25
Senior totals 11 1 3 4 0

Awards and honours

Award Year
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2022 [12]

References

  1. Cristodero, Damian (May 31, 2013). "Russian draft prospect Valeri Nichushkin 'serious' about playing in the NHL, his agent says". Tampa Bay Times.
  2. Blinn, Michael (November 3, 2013). "Dallas Stars rookie Valeri Nichushkin scores his first NHL goal". SI.com.
  3. Heika, Mike (December 13, 2014). "Valeri Nichushkin back from hip surgery, should be helped by team environment". Dallas Morning News.
  4. "Valeri Nichushkin joins the composition of CSKA" (in Russian). HC CSKA Moscow. September 20, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  5. "Stars sign Valeri Nichushkin to two-year contract". Dallas Stars. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  6. "Stars buy out Valeri Nichushkin". Dallas Stars. June 30, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  7. JFresh (September 14, 2020). "How Valeri Nichushkin Became 2020's Biggest (and Most Controversial) Analytical Darling". jfresh.substack.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  8. "2019-20 NHL Awards Voting". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  9. "Avalanche Re-Signs Valeri Nichushkin". NHL.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  10. "Valeri Nichushkin leaves Avalanche for personal reasons; no timetable for postseason return". The Denver Gazette. April 23, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  11. 1 2 "911 call provides new details on Seattle hotel incident with Avalanche star Nichushkin, woman". The Seattle Times. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  12. "Colorado Avalanche win first Stanley Cup since 2001 with Game 6 comeback". ESPN. June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
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