The Colorado Avalanche enter the offseason with an important decision that could affect their Stanley Cup hopes. While trade rumors continue to surround Valeri Nichushkin, the bigger question may not be whether Colorado can trade him, but whether they should.

Nichushkin remains one of the most valuable players on the Avalanche roster. When healthy, he brings a rare mix of size, speed, physical play, and offensive skill.

Even though injuries affected his season, he still scored 17 goals and added 32 assists for 49 points in 72 games. His ability to pressure opponents, keep plays alive in the offensive zone, and create scoring chances makes him an important part of Colorado’s game.

But questions about Valeri Nichushkin’s availability continue to spark debate. Injuries have followed him throughout his NHL career, and he has never played a full season.

Off-ice issues, including his exit during the 2023 playoffs and time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, have also raised concerns about consistency.

However, the Colorado Avalanche knows what they would lose by trading him. Nichushkin is one of the NHL’s most impactful playoff forwards when he's fine and has played a key role in Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup championship season. 

After trading Ross Colton, the Colorado Avalanche gained more salary-cap space. They could trade Valeri Nichushkin and move his $6.125 million cap hit to add a defenseman or a younger forward. However, replacing everything he brings to the team would be much harder than simply creating cap space.

Because of that, waiting may be the best choice for Colorado. Instead of making a quick trade, the Avalanche could give Nichushkin a full offseason to prepare and then see how he performs during the first half of next season before making a final long-term decision.

Colorado has more reasons to believe

There are several other good reasons for the Colorado Avalanche to keep Valeri Nichushkin for at least one more season.

Since returning from his six-month suspension, there have been no public issues. Head coach Jared Bednar has often praised Nichushkin’s mindset and said he has become a stronger leader in the locker room.

Even though he is quiet, younger players reportedly see him as friendly and reliable, and his strong relationships with teammates have increased his importance within the group.

His lower production also came during a season filled with setbacks. A lower-body injury in November kept him out for almost a month. Later, he missed games after a car accident, dealt with an upper-body injury near the end of the season, and suffered another lower-body injury during the playoffs. Few players faced as many interruptions during the year.

The Colorado Avalanche know exactly what Valeri Nichushkin can do in big games. During the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, he played with a broken foot and still recorded four goals and two assists against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Those performances showed how important he can be in the playoffs.

A full summer focused on recovery and training could help him have another strong season. At 31 years old, Nichushkin is still young enough to bounce back and become a major impact player again.

For a team chasing another Stanley Cup, keeping him may be a safer option than trading away one of its most valuable players.

What do you think? Should Colorado trust Valeri Nichushkin's potential or pursue roster changes to strengthen Cup hopes? Comment down below. 

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason