The Colorado Avalanche traded forward Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday in exchange for three draft picks, including one in this week’s draft.
Colorado received a 2026 second-round pick from Columbus as well as a 2027 third-rounder and a 2028 fifth-rounder. The 2026 pick is No. 43 overall and originally belonged to the St. Louis Blues before changing hands in a prior trade.
Nichushkin, 31, spent the past seven seasons in Colorado and was a key contributor to the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run. He tallied nine goals and six assists in 15 points across 20 Stanley Cup playoff appearances.
Nichushkin also has had a volatile record away from the ice. The year after Colorado’s Cup, in 2023, the Russian stepped away from the team during the playoffs for personal reasons and it was reported that he was found in a hotel room with a woman suffering from alcohol intoxication. He did not face criminal charges.
Nichushkin later entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in January 2024. He returned before the postseason, but during the second round of the playoffs, Nichushkin was assessed a six-month suspension by the league for violating the terms of the Player Assistance Program, the details of which were not revealed.
In 72 games this past season, Nichushkin tallied 17 goals and 32 assists over 72 games. He has career totals of 154 goals and 203 assists in 627 games for the Dallas Stars (2013-16, 2018-19) and Avalanche (2019-26). He also has tallied 28 goals and 15 assists in 91 playoff games over his career.
