Arrr! Avalanche star Valeri Nichushkin be walkin' the plank, suspended afore the playoff battle for 6 moons!
2024-05-13
Arrr mateys, Valeri Nichushkin of the Colorado Avalanche be takin' a six months break and be enterin' Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program, as decreed by the league and union. Aye, mayhaps he be spendin' his time learnin' how to navigate the treacherous seas of sobriety!
Avast ye mateys! The Colorado Avalanche be sailin' into the Stanley Cup Playoffs without Valeri Nichushkin by their side. The scallywag be placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program, keepin' him away from the playoffs and the crew for months to come.The news came just afore the Avalanche faced off against the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. This be the second time this season he's been in the program, and Stage 3 means he broke the rules.Under the rules of the program, Nichushkin be suspended without pay for at least six months and then may apply to return. He be the team's leadin' scorer with nine playoff goals.Earlier in the season, Nichushkin was absent for nearly two months for undisclosed issues. Last season, he missed the final playoff games due to personal reasons.In a previous playoff series, he left the team for personal reasons after a crisis at a hotel. Reports say a woman was found intoxicated and needed medical assistance.During the 2023-24 season, he scored 28 goals and tallied 53 points in 54 games. The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on Twitter and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter for more news and updates. Arrr!