Stanley Cup winner Valeri Nitšuškin will leave the season and focus on helping himself.
The Russian player who scored 42 points in 40 games in the Colorado Avalanche at the beginning of the season Valery Nitshuškin leave the season after applying to the NHL players’ support programwhich helps players with, among other things, substance addiction or mental health problems.
Nitshuškin was sidelined for team action before Saturday’s game against Toronto. The player was also not part of the team’s morning ice on Monday.
Nitshushkin, according to his words, has in front of him clear goals.
– My goal is to solve my problem and prevent negative consequences once and for all. I want to thank my wife and family, my friends, Avalanche and all our fans for their understanding and support. I will do everything I can to get back on the ice and join my teammates as soon as possible.
Special events
Nitchushkin’s last season ended in a peculiar way in the first round of the playoffs. Colorado was facing the third game of the series in Seattle, until the 28-year-old forward did not show up.
The Seattle hotel called on the day of the game emergency call, in which help was requested for a 28-year-old woman in a confused state. The woman was found when the team was looking for the missing Nitšushkin. The woman in question had been found in the player’s hotel room.
It was written in the North American media that the woman was suspected of alcohol poisoning. He was taken to the hospital for further examinations.
Nitshuškin left the hotel with Avalanche security personnel and left Seattle the same day. It was later known that he traveled to his native Russia.
During the incident, the woman hit Avalanche’s doctor, who, however, did not want to press charges.
Only a few hours after the incident, the Avalanche were playing the third game of the series.
In front of the media in September, Nitšuškin deflected questions about his absence from the playoff series. He said at the time that he and the team mutually decided that the player would miss the rest of the playoff series. Colorado eventually lost to Seattle in seven games.
Nitshuški too comment before the start of the season to the media that there was nothing interesting involved.
– I know you would like to find something, but there is nothing interesting. It’s a new season and we have to focus on it.
The player added that the departure was due to family reasons.
Nitshuški too in addition to your complaint about doping in 2021. Testosterone was found in the doping test taken before the Sochi Olympics.
Nitšuškin, who was in good shape this season, was also nominated for the All-Star event to be held in Toronto in February.
According to the terms of the support program, he will return to the strength of the team when the administrators of the program have given permission to play.
The attacker signed an eight-year contract extension with Colorado last summer worth $49 million.
Support program
Other current NHL players include Florida’s goalkeeper Spencer Knight and Detroit forward Jakub Vrana have applied for help through the support program.
Also one of the best goalkeepers of all time Carey Price has sought help from the program.
The support program was established in 1996 together with the NHL and the league’s players’ association NHLPA.
– Confidential help for mental health, substance abuse and behavior problems
– Services also available for family members
– In cooperation with the league and the players’ association (NHLPA)