Nichushkin’s Playoff Puzzle

The Colorado Avalanche are grappling with a troubling trend as they look ahead to the 2026-27 season: Valeri Nichushkin’s decline in impact. Despite posting solid 45-55 point totals for the fourth straight year—including 17 goals and 49 points—his points-per-game average is at its lowest in years, and he fell short of the 30-goal mark for the first time since his breakout. While he played over 70 games for the first time in a decade, his playoff output (2G, 2A in 12 games) and overall inconsistency raise alarms. At 31, with injury history, his dip in production is concerning. The Avalanche need him to rebound as a top-six force, and with his health improving, there’s hope—but the pressure is on to prove this wasn’t a fluke. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3a995ded06fd53b2