Avalanche may trade point-per-game star winger Valeri Nichushkin per top insider

The trade deadline is only days away now, and even though the Colorado Avalanche have the best record in the league, they could be considering a stunning trade.

Per Avalanche analyst Adrian Dater, the team could be considering a trade of point-per-game star forward Valeri Nichushkin, who helped them win a Stanley Cup in 2022 but has also experienced numerous off-ice issues.

So far this year, Nichushkin has 36 points (12G, 24A) in 51 games.

The trade deadline is March 6.

Nichushkin, who was taken with the 10th overall pick by the divisional foe Dallas Stars in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, helped the Avalanche win their first Stanley Cup since 2001 in 2022.

But he's experienced numerous off-ice problems that have been a distraction for the team, including a highly-publicized incident in Seattle during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and then getting suspended for the first several weeks of 2024-25 after getting placed into Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

He's played in 606 career games in a Stars and Avalanche sweater and has 344 points (149G, 195A).

After this season, he still has four years left on his contract with an AAV (average annual value) of $6,125,000. If he's traded, the Avs may have to retain a small portion of that number to make a deal work.

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