Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has been placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and will be suspended for a minimum of six months without pay, the league announced Monday.
After six months, Nichushkin, 29, will be eligible to apply for reinstatement.
The forward has appeared in all eight of the Avalanche’s playoff games, scoring nine goals and one assist for 10 points. In 54 regular-season games this year, he had 28 goals and 53 points.
Nichushkin entered the Player Assistance Program for the first time in January. He was away from the team for two months and returned on March 8.
“It is what it is,” forward Andrew Cogliano told reporters after Monday’s 5-1 Game 4 loss to the Dallas Stars. “We’re focusing on our job. We’re in the second round of the playoffs here. This is a tough business and this is our job — we’re giving it all we got, so we focus on the guys in the room.”
“Val obviously is struggling with something,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar added. “Yeah, it sucks. You’ve got to turn the page, we’ve got to play way better than we did today. There’s still 20-plus guys in that room that care and that want to win, that are here, and that’s what we have to focus on. It hurts our team, no question. Great player.
“I’ve gotten to know Val as a person and I’ve gotten to know him as one of our teammates and players and I want what’s best for him. I want him to be happy and I want him to be content in his life, whether that’s with our team or not with our team. I want the best for him and his family. I think all our guys are the same and we hope that he can find some peace and get help.”
The Player Assistance Program has four stages: Stage 1 is the first in-patient treatment, which is entirely voluntary. Stage 2 is following a violation of Stage 1, wherein the entrant is suspended without pay during the active phase of treatment. An entrant is placed in Stage 3 following a violation of Stage 2, and is suspended without pay for a minimum of six months. After three violations, an entrant is placed in Stage 4, which carries a one-year suspension without pay and no guarantee of reinstatement.
The program was established in 1996 as a venture to aid NHL players and their families through struggles with mental health, substance abuse and other issues.