The Colorado Avalanche are once again poised to have one of the most talented rosters in the National Hockey League. With top-tier players Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar in Denver, the club has two legitimate contenders for best-in-the-world discussions.
Even so, when sitting down to analyze the big picture, it occurred to me that those models of consistent excellence might not determine Colorado's ultimate fate. Indeed, my friend and fellow MHS contributor, Conor, has highlighted the keys to the Stanley Cup in a three-part series over the last few days. The series is well-reasoned and sweeping, and touches on individual targets that will lead to team success.
In the second entry, Valeri Nichushkin is mentioned as possibly the most important Avalanche weapon. I fully agree with Conor's assessment that a career-year would go a long way in bringing another Stanley Cup to Colorado.
But more than simply affirming an opinion I agree with, this article will drill down on just why the imposing Russian forward is perhaps the secret ingredient in the quest to win it all.
Nichuskin's versatility
Among Colorado's top-six forwards, Nichushkin is the most versatile two-way player. This is another way of saying he's crucial and potentially elite at both offensive and defensive duties. His size, tenacity and skill make him the perfect weapon irrespective of who he is on the ice with at any given moment.
Big Val has scoring touch and the all-important clutch-gene. Nichushkin's large frame and great hands lead to him being both a fantastic screener and a timely tipper on the power play. As Avalanche fans know, the revamping of special teams has been a major focus this offseason.
With savvy additions like Victor Olofsson and Brent Burns, Colorado is setting the table for a fresh look on the man-advantage. That said, it would be unfair and foolhardy to expect free agents to carry the bulk of the weight in production.
Thus, when you look beyond the pillars of MacKinnon and Makar, Nichushkin is the likeliest candidate to drive success. In 332 games played, Nichushkin has tallied a total of 37 power play goals. This is good enough for 20th on the all-time Avalanche leaderboard.
If that number doesn't immediately jump out as significant, consider this bit of context: he is just two goals behind Matt Duchene and Alex Tanguay in that stat, who each compiled their totals in nearly 600 games in burgundy and blue.
I've already written this summer about how much I love Alex Tanguay. Likewise, one cannot in good conscience discount Duchene and what he once meant to this franchise, no matter how fractured that relationship became. That the center is now a hated Dallas Star, and mortal enemy of Colorado fans, does not change his potential Hall of Fame trajectory.
I've talked about his offensive importance, but as I alluded to earlier, Nichushkin has been elite defensively in the past. In 2020, he shocked stat nerds with eye-popping analytics. That year, Nichushkin ranked first overall in Goals For % while on the ice among 329 forwards in the league.
What that translates to in a nutshell is that #13 was on the ice for more than twice the number of goals scored for the Avalanche than against them. That year, he finished 8th in Selke voting, the award for the best defensive-forward. I maintain that the reason he didn't get the hardware at the time was that he was on the third line.
With an increased role in the seasons since, Nichushkin has continued to be a force defensively, getting Selke consideration in 2021 and 2022. His injury and personal struggles have perhaps led to a dip in defensive metrics more recently, but there is reason for optimism about the future.
The time is now for Valeri Nichushkin to step up for the Colorado Avalanche
The saga of Valeri Nichushkin has come with unfortunate controversy. We all know of his incidents in back-to-back playoff exiting dramas. I don't need to re-hash those stories now except to say that both the organization and fans are elated that Nichushkin is back and healthy in both body and mind.
Nichushkin is clearly a playoff gamechanger when he's at his best. On the way to the Stanley Cup in 2022, 'Nuke' officially announced his arrival to the wider hockey world. His nine goals and six assists didn't top the Avalanche obviously, but his value had never been more pronounced.
He was also skating with a broken foot while the boys raised Lord Stanley. It was that grit and determination that impressed the Avalanche brass and scored him a lucrative extension post-Stanley Cup. The eight-year deal runs through 2030. Given everything that has transpired, it's proven to be an even more hefty commitment.
Last year, in recovery, Nichushkin completed his stint in the Player Assistance Program. That was a major step. Getting to the end of the season and through the added pressure of yet another playoff series against the club that drafted him, was also hugely encouraging.
The team is deeper now than they were to start any of the years following the 2022 title win. The goalies are set. The defense looks as skilled and stout as any out there. Oh, and their captain is ready to go.
Although their situations are very different in nature, Gabriel Landeskog's story provides an interesting comparison. This season, the Avalanche captain will be playing his first full year since a career-altering setback.
The team is thrilled to have their leader, but they aren't exactly eager to place the potentially-crushing weight of expectations on Landeskog yet. Getting through the campaign healthy will likely be seen as victory for Landeskog.
This is precisely why a true breakout year for Nichushkin could be the most welcome x-factor for the Avalanche collectively. If the guy who scored nine goals in eight playoff appearances in 2023-24 shows up this postseason, I would have to think Colorado would be one of the odds-on favorites to win it all in June of 2026.
In just 43 games last season, Nichushkin chipped in 21 goals and 13 helpers. The goals pace looked great, and the assists number could be forgiven with the unprecedented number of injuries the Avalanche faced. The 'Chu Chu Train' is fueled-up and ready to roll.