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Avalanche rumors: The veteran forward becoming trade candidate after down season
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- Avalanche rumors: The veteran forward becoming trade candidate after down season
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Valeri Nichushkin has been one of the Colorado Avalanche 's most reliable forwards over the last several seasons, but the veteran winger could find himself at the center of trade speculation this summer .
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Speaking on the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Nichushkin's name has surfaced in trade conversations as Colorado evaluates ways to reshape its roster ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Friedman did not indicate that a move is close, but the fact that the Avalanche are at least discussing the possibility is noteworthy given Nichushkin's importance to the organization over the years.
Colorado is facing a cap crunch this summer and still has several roster decisions to make, particularly on the blue line. According to PuckPedia projections, the Avalanche have just over $6 million in available cap space — and only four defensemen under contract.
Veterans Brent Burns, Brett Kulak, Jack Ahcan and Nick Blankenburg are all eligible to reach the open market on July 1, creating additional pressure on the front office to maximize every dollar available.
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Moving Nichushkin would certainly help in that regard.
The 31-year-old carries a $6.125 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season and remains one of the more expensive contracts on Colorado's books. He also owns a limited no-trade clause, meaning the Avalanche would still have a fairly large pool of potential trade partners if they decided to pursue a deal.
Nichushkin's value is somewhat difficult to gauge.
On one hand, injuries have been a recurring issue throughout his tenure in Denver. Between the start of the 2021-22 season and the end of 2024-25, he appeared in only 212 regular-season games, missing significant stretches of time.
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On the other hand, his production when healthy has often been at the level of a top-line player.
During that same span, Nichushkin scored 91 goals and recorded 186 points, providing the Avalanche with a consistent top-six presence and one of the more effective two-way forwards in the Western Conference.
Ironically, the healthiest season of his Avalanche career ended up being one of his least productive offensively.
Nichushkin suited up in 72 games during the 2025-26 campaign but finished with just 17 goals and 49 points, well below the pace he had established over the previous several years. His role diminished as the season progressed, and he was unable to provide much offensive spark in the postseason, finishing with four points in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
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Nichushkin's combination of size, defensive responsibility and playoff experience remains appealing, particularly for contenders looking to add a proven top-six winger.
For now, there is no indication that Colorado is aggressively shopping the veteran forward. But Friedman's report suggests the Avalanche are at least willing to consider their options as they search for additional flexibility and look to keep a championship-caliber core intact.
