Valeri Nichushkin has returned to Denver, while goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen has arrived, the Colorado Avalanche announced Saturday.

Nichushkin remains in Stage 3 of the NHL-NHLPA player assistance program but will be skating and working out away from the team. General manager Chris MacFarland said before the regular season began that Nichushkin was expected to return to Colorado from Russia near the end of this month.

While being placed into Stage 3 of the program May 13 — the day of Game 4 against the Dallas Stars during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs — Nichushkin was suspended for “at least six months.” He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement next month, but will also have to show he’s satisfied the requirements of Stage 3. MacFarland said last month that all reports he’s received from the program’s doctors have been positive.

Nichushkin had the best season of his career in 2023-24, despite playing only 54 games because he missed a chunk of it while in Stage 2 of the player assistance program. He had 28 goals and 53 points, then added nine goals and an assist in eight playoff games before the suspension.



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