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Avs should continue to try to trade Valeri Nichushkin this summer
The Colorado Avalanche have forward Valeri Nichushkin under contract for the next six years.
Let’s hope that isn’t the case in the next six weeks.
As free agency opened in the NHL on Monday, there was some good news and then a bunch of small moves from Colorado. The team re-signed Jonathan Drouin at just $2.5 million, a great job negotiating by Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland. That was a win for the club, but then a bunch of underwhelming signings happened.
With apologies to Joel Kiviranta, Calvin de Haan, Jacob MacDonald, T.J. Tynan, Parker Kelly and Calle Rosen, no one is planning a parade because the Avs inked them to a series of contracts. Some of those guys probably won’t even be on the roster on opening night, instead reporting to duty with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
And why didn’t the Avalanche have more cap space to work with? Well it’s in large part due to the fact that Nichushkin is still on the team, scheduled to count $6.125 million against the salary cap next season.
As you know by now Nichushkin is in the middle of a six-month suspension, after letting the Avs down in the playoffs for a second year in a row. Nichushkin is in Stage 3 of the Player Assistance Program of the NHLPA and NHL, after getting popped right before the Avalanche and Stars were getting ready to play Game 4 of their Round 2 playoff series.
This tweet from Frank Seravalli about Colorado’s cap situation on Monday was alarming to say the least.