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[Jesse Montano] MacFarland says that Val Nichushkin is doing well, and that they’re expecting him to be heading back to Denver “later this month”



[Jesse Montano] MacFarland says that Val Nichushkin is doing well, and that they’re expecting him to be heading back to Denver “later this month”

by Michaelli11

15 Comments

  1. ItHardToSay17

    Fantastic news. Hoping it holds true. Would love to have a happy and healthy Val back with the boys

  2. EggplantAlpinism

    Not like we have a choice but to hope he comes back and does well, but I do hope he does. Addiction is a bitch.

  3. likesexonlycheaper

    I’ll prob get downvoted for this but I hope he comes back and plays lights out so we can trade him. Can’t risk these season killer events anymore.

  4. Xarkkal

    The lack of support for Val from a lot of this fanbase is disgusting. He’s dealing with an addiction problem (a problem that started from the pain meds that he was on while playing on a broken foot to win us a cup) He’s getting the help he needs. If any of you have a family member who ends up struggling with addiction, I hope you are hell of a lot more supportive of them than you have been of Val.

  5. biohazard842

    Val is a bonafide top line winger with defensive acumen.

    If he comes back, he will be on this team, and he will be valuable.

    Faith can be earned back. It is up to the Colorado Avalanche staff to support him and create an environment where he doesn’t feel the need to relapse.

    Remember what Val sacrificed for our Cup!

  6. Awolfx9

    I’ll believe this when Nichuskin plays through both the regular season and however long the Avs are in the playoffs. If he’s truly *truly* changed he won’t fail another drug test and bail for a 3rd straight postseason.

  7. newswhore802

    How can anyone have any trust in Val after 2 years of this? This idea that because its an “addiction” issue that we have to magically forgive the sheer shitfuckery that he’s inflicted on the franchise two years in a row is ridiculous. The man was found in a hotel room with a drugged out, sex-trafficked escort for christ sake.

  8. themrs0830

    I work with people who struggle with addiction. The biggest things that lead to relapse (which is part of the cycle) is shame, guilt, and lack of support (whether that’s friends/family/financial/housing/emotional is obviously up to the individual). Knowing the team, he’s definitely got a lot of those supports taken care of. I hope he’s also doing some kind of therapy to deal with the feelings that come with recovery. Wishing you luck Val!

  9. P90kinas

    Good shit, happy to see him back in the lineup. I hope, for his and his family’s sake, that he can keep up his sobriety.

  10. tildens_cat

    I’d like to highlight how many in this sub have been and continue to really vilely criticize Val, whereas before training camp his teammates and team leaders vocally acknowledged their support for him and that they would welcome him back, but also recognize it’s his job to meet his responsibilities.

    I think it’s admirable they showed such public support and I think that should provoke reflection for everyone here who’ve been cruel and excessively judgemental of Val.

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