The Colorado Avalanche got some bad injury news on Wednesday. Russian forward Valeri Nichushkin will be on the shelf for “some time.”
Coach Jared Bednar provided the relatively cryptic update, stating:
“He’s gonna miss some time, I just don’t know how much.”
Larger quote on Nichushkin.
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) November 12, 2025
“They got to get imaging and all that kind of stuff today, so it's definitely a concern. He's not here today and left the game early last night, so he's going to miss some time, I just don't know how much.” https://t.co/rR9VJQxqZe
The operative term here is “some time.” In NHL terms, that could mean weeks, if not months. Apparently, Nichushkin is dealing with a lower-body injury. That’s hockeyspeak for anything from a groin pull to a torn ACL.
That being said, the Avalanche must brace for playing without Nichushkin for the foreseeable future. That situation could represent a serious blow as the Avs’ second line has been humming along quite well. The trio of Brock Nelson, Ross Colton, and Nichushkin has been delivering glimpses of greatness. The 30-year-old Nichushkin has racked up five goals and 12 points in 17 games.
While those numbers don’t really compare to Nathan MacKinnon’s video game-like stats, they are certainly noteworthy. So, without Nichushkin in the lineup, who do the Colorado Avalanche turn to?
One initial thought might be to promote Victor Olofsson to that line. However, he’s been playing very well on the third line with captain Gabriel Landeskog and Jack Drury. So, here’s a thought: Why not give Gavin Brindley a shot? His overall play this season has warranted attention. His speed and overall grit have put him on the map despite extremely limited ice time.
The Avalanche lose nothing by giving Brindley a shot at the top six.
Avalanche got what they expected from Brindley this season
Gavin Brindley was somewhat of an afterthought in the Charlie Coyle trade. It seemed like the Avalanche wanted to get something, anything back for their cap dump trade. The 21-year-old has lived up to the hype, scoring three goals and two assists in 15 games. Those are solid numbers for a fourth liner.
Brindley has averaged around 11 minutes a night, playing predominantly grinder shifts while the top six get a breather. His game-winner in overtime against the Vancouver Canucks a few nights ago rewarded Bednar’s fate in Brindley. The Coach put the rookie out there in overtime and delivered.
So, why not give Brindley a one or two-game audition while Nichushkin is on the shelf? Sure, he lacks the size and punch that Nichushkin brings to the table. But then again, Brindley seems to enjoy punching above his weight class. That sort of grit and determination is not easily found.
Ultimately, the Colorado Avalanche could look at Brindley as part of the team’s succession plan. There will be some inevitable churn in the team’s lineup. That’s why it makes sense to see just what they’ve got in the rookie forward before determining how high his ceiling could be.