In a recent interview with Russian outlet RB Sport, former Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin spoke about the trade that sent him to the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier this offseason.
Nichushkin expressed excitement about joining Columbus and playing alongside a young, talented core. He also described the Avalanche as one of the older teams in the NHL with a limited Cup window.
On the surface, that comment could come across as a slight shot at his former team. But I personally wouldn't read too much into it. Nichushkin's comments were translated from Russian, and things can understandably get lost in translation. More importantly, his comments about Colorado didn't come across as bitter or critical.
When asked about going from a Stanley Cup contender in Colorado to a Columbus team that missed the playoffs last season, here's what Nichushkin said.
"At first glance, that might be true, but on the other hand, Colorado is now one of the oldest teams in the league. And when we won the Cup, we were in the top five youngest. Columbus has some very good players, a good balance. They have Zach Werenski , who won the league's best defenseman award last season. Among the forwards, Kirill Marchenko is a clear leader. So, overall, the players are good, and it's just like in the NHL: a couple of trades and everything can change very quickly."
You can read bits and pieces of the full interview here , and I highly recommend doing so.
Nichushkin also spoke about the adjustment that comes with leaving Denver after spending seven seasons with the Avalanche.
As you'd probably expect from someone with Nichushkin's personality, he was very much a creature of habit during his time in Colorado. He regularly frequented the Cherry Creek North neighborhood, where he also lived.
Now, at 31 years old, he'll have to establish new routines in a new city after spending some of the most important years of his development, both on and off the ice, in Colorado.
"In terms of living, it's a bit of a challenge. I lived in Denver for seven years and knew every street. Now everything will be different, and I'll have to find a new place to live. But it's okay; I'll adapt," Nichushkin said.
When the Avalanche traded him, Nichushkin was one of the longest-tenured players in the organization after signing with the club as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019.
He ultimately ended up signing three contracts with the Avalanche.
Only four players who were with Colorado when Nichushkin arrived in 2019 remained with the team when he departed this summer. Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon , Cale Makar , and Logan O'Connor.
Nazem Kadri also arrived that same summer, nearly two months before Nichushkin, but left the Avalanche following the 2021-22 championship season. He returned to Colorado in March after the Avalanche acquired him from the Calgary Flames .
Nichushkin's departure officially brings an end to one of the longest chapters of the Avalanche's current era. From becoming a key part of Colorado's Stanley Cup-winning team to establishing himself as one of the NHL's more dominant two-way forwards, his time in Denver was filled with plenty of highs and, as we all know, equally as many lows.
In another story from the same interview, which you can find here , Nichushkin revealed that he and his wife recently welcomed a son, Arseniy.
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