Some incredibly sad and undoubtedly frustrating news broke just before the Colorado Avalanche took the ice for an important playoff game on Monday evening. Forward Valeri Nichushkin, who is tied with Edmonton’s Zach
Hyman for the NHL’s postseason lead with nine goals (in only eight games) won’t score another goal this offseason. Or for a significant portion of next year. The NHL and NHLPA announced Nichushkin has been placed in Stage 3 of the Players Assistance Program — a 6-month ban without pay — for violating the terms of the program. Multiple outlets have reported Nichushkin failed a drug test.
