SEATTLE — Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin is no longer with the team. After missing morning skate for what head coach Jared Bednar called a maintenance day, it was later confirmed that Nichushkin departed Seattle on Saturday.
Bednar said after the Avs’ 6-4 victory in Game 3 that Nichushkin’s absence is for personal reasons. He later confirmed it was not injury-related or disciplinary. When asked later if Nichushkin had returned to Denver, the team was unable to confirm.
There is no timetable for his return.
Nichushkin was present in each of the Avs’ first two playoff games against the Kraken and was expected to dress on Saturday. In Thursday’s 3-2 victory at Ball Arena, Nichushkin scored the game-tying goal in the second period that made it 2-2. Without their rugged winger in the top six, the Avs’ lines were once again jumbled with both Matt Nieto and Denis Malgin getting time with center J.T. Compher.
More to come on this developing story.