Valeri Nichushkin

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Valeri Nichushkin
Valeri Nichushkin - Dallas Stars.jpg
Nichushkin with the Dallas Stars in 2013
Born (1995-03-04) March 4, 1995 (age 26)
Chelyabinsk, Russia
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Colorado Avalanche
Traktor Chelyabinsk
Dallas Stars
CSKA Moscow
National team  Russia
NHL Draft 10th overall, 2013
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2012–present

Valeri Ivanovich Nichushkin (Russian: Валерий Иванович Ничушкин; born March 4, 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Dallas Stars in the first round, 10th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career[]

After one season in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Nichushkin transferred from Traktor Chelyabinsk to Dynamo Moscow on May 1, 2013. He then signed a two-year contract with Dynamo. However, the deal was terminated conditionally, allowing Nichushkin to play in the NHL, or be returned to Dynamo if he failed to make the NHL team.

Nichushkin played his first regular season NHL game on October 3, 2013, against the Florida Panthers.[1] He scored his first career NHL goal on November 3, 2013, against Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators.[2]

Nichushkin in January 2014

After having a solid rookie season (14 goals and 20 assists), Nichushkin suffered from hip and groin soreness in the beginning of his sophomore campaign, 2014–15. Five games into the season, Nichushkin opted for hip surgery, which was performed on November 18, 2014.[3] He rehabbed in New Jersey and re-joined the team in March 2015, practicing in a red no-contact jersey.

As a restricted free agent following the conclusion of his entry-level deal in the 2015–16 season, Nichushkin and the Stars failed to agree to common grounds in contract negotiations. Unhappy with his current role within the Stars line-up, his KHL rights were traded from Dynamo Moscow to CSKA Moscow on September 20, 2016. He subsequently signed a two-year contract to return to the KHL with CSKA, with his NHL rights to be kept by the Stars.[4]

After two seasons with CSKA, Nichushkin returned to the Stars organization, in agreeing to a two-year, $5.9 million contract on July 1, 2018.[5] In his return to the Stars in the 2018–19 season, Nichushkin recorded 10 assists in 54 regular-season games, averaging 11:55 time on ice per game. Nichushkin skated in one game during the playoffs with the Stars and failed to record a point.

After a disappointing campaign in failing to score a goal through 57 games, Nichuskin was placed on unconditional waivers and subsequently bought out from the remaining year of his contract with the Stars on 30 June 2019.[6]

Nichushkin signed a one-year, $850k contract with the Colorado Avalanche on August 19, 2019. Nichushkin scored his first goal in 2 years on November 23, 2019. In his first season with the Avalanche, Nichushkin received high praise from the analytics community for his high rankings in many advanced metrics, especially defensive metrics. [7] Nichushkin finished the 2019-20 season with 13 goals and 27 points — the second most productive season of his career — and led all forwards in the NHL in defensive Goals Above Replacement. Such strong defensive play helped Nichushkin to receive votes for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, the award given to the best defensive forward in the NHL, finishing 8th in voting.[8]

On October 10, 2020, the Avalanche re-signed Nichushkin, who was a restricted free agent, to a 2-year, $5 million contract extension.[9]

Career statistics[]

Regular season and playoffs[]

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk MHL 38 4 6 10 6 — — — — —
2012–13 Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk MHL 9 4 4 8 0 — — — — —
2012–13 Chelmet Chelyabinsk VHL 15 8 2 10 4 — — — — —
2012��13 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 18 4 2 6 0 25 6 3 9 0
2013–14 Dallas Stars NHL 79 14 20 34 8 6 1 1 2 2
2014–15 Dallas Stars NHL 8 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2014–15 Texas Stars AHL 5 0 4 4 12 — — — — —
2015–16 Dallas Stars NHL 79 9 20 29 12 10 0 1 1 2
2016–17 CSKA Moscow KHL 36 11 13 24 9 9 1 4 5 4
2017–18 CSKA Moscow KHL 50 16 11 27 14 19 3 6 9 4
2018–19 Dallas Stars NHL 57 0 10 10 0 1 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Colorado Avalanche NHL 65 13 14 27 14 15 2 1 3 2
2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL 55 10 11 21 4 10 1 2 3 10
KHL totals 104 31 26 57 23 53 10 13 23 8
NHL totals 343 46 76 122 40 42 4 5 9 16
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Germany/France
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Russia

International[]

Year Team Event Place   GP G A Pts PIM
2012 Russia U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 3 3 6 0
2012 Russia WJC18 5th 6 2 0 2 0
2013 Russia WJC18 4th 6 4 3 7 0
2013 Russia WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 1 1 2 25
2014 Russia OG 5th 5 1 0 1 0
2017 Russia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 0 3 3 0
Junior totals 23 10 7 17 25
Senior totals 11 1 3 4 0

References[]

  1. ^ Cristodero, Damian (May 31, 2013). "Russian draft prospect Valeri Nichushkin 'serious' about playing in the NHL, his agent says". Tampa Bay Times.
  2. ^ Blinn, Michael (November 3, 2013). "Dallas Stars rookie Valeri Nichushkin scores his first NHL goal". SI.com.
  3. ^ Heika, Mike (December 13, 2014). "Valeri Nichushkin back from hip surgery, should be helped by team environment". Dallas Morning News.
  4. ^ "Valeri Nichushkin joins the composition of CSKA" (in Russian). HC CSKA Moscow. September 20, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  5. ^ "Stars sign Valeri Nichushkin to two-year contract". Dallas Stars. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  6. ^ "Stars buy out Valeri Nichushkin". Dallas Stars. June 30, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  7. ^ JFresh. "How Valeri Nichushkin Became 2020's Biggest (and Most Controversial) Analytical Darling". jfresh.substack.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "2019-20 NHL Awards Voting". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "Avalanche Re-Signs Valeri Nichushkin". NHL.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.

External links[]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Dallas Stars first round draft pick
2013 		Succeeded by
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