Confirmed with Link: Nichushkin back in assistance program; suspended a minimum of six months

[Balthazar]

We are so f***ed

 

[Freudian]

Guess Bednar made a deal with the devil at the crossroads in 2022 and the price we have to pay is Landy's knee and Nuke's nose.

 

[GeoRox89]

Rehab doesn't work for everyone, it is not surprising to see some people fall back into addiction 3, 4, or even 6 times, especially when they have access to whatever it is - it could be a close friend. Most of all, real change has to come internally within. Some people are mentally weak though, and have a high external locus of control or a fixed mindset.

Surprised they didn’t force him onto naltrexone as part of the program unless it doesn’t work for coke. There was a huge grievance with the BC Nurses Union over a guy demanding to be able to go that route instead of 12 step on account of a freedom of religion objection to the ‘higher power’ aspect

 

[Frenchy]

We are so f***ed

I'm willing to bet that the Avs will try to do it anyway

 

[DanishAvsfan]

Addicts will do that to people who love them and try to help them. THere's lots of documentation via 12 step programs etc.. Nuke hasn't hit bottom yet.

They will. But this not a family type situation. He has let down the team twice now at the most important time of the year and basically ended their SC window due to the resources squandered on him which should have been used on other players. As human being I feel sorry for him, but as a fan of the team for 28 years and for the team itself, which delicate their lives to get a chance of winning a sc I feel like he can rot in a Gulag in Siberia.

 

[Golden Foppa]

Richards had completed stage 1 when he was terminated. The Avs can do it, it will just be a process.

The Avs also know details that aren't in the media. They should be able to terminate his contract for cause.

 

[Balthazar]

I'm willing to bet that the Avs will try to do it anyway

They may try but If the CBA says no they can't do shit.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

This sucks for multiple reasons, Nuke is a huge part of the team when he is available, but holy hell my guy, maybe it’s time to step away from the lime light and fully try to commit to being clean

 

[Avs_19]

Avs are going to walk into the mediation and just tell on themselves. “Here are the 15 things we covered up! This is grounds for termination!”

 

[Golden Foppa]

Adrian Dater is a very ugly human being, and has been for a long time. Just an awful person. He’s supplied ample evidence many times.

I’m happy to support TMV (both in here and financially at CHNow) and to never ever again read another Dater article for the rest of my life.

Adrian Dater is a massive piece of s*** as a person. I can't stand that he always surfaces in Avs documentaries. There are other people who can provide color and details to franchise stories.

 

[henchman21]

They may try but If the CBA says no they can't do shit.

It is allowed in the SPC. It will be a legal battle if they do so.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

He seems to do his best work on the ice when he is off (on) the rails

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Not sure it's wrong and is understandable.
I'm sure many of his family, friends and teammates have similar thoughts.

Just not the stance I can take when it comes to addictions. I can't speak to whether he wants to get better or not,
I can't do anything for him except wish for the best outcome for him and his young family.

That's the saddest part for me. He's got a young daughter.

For her sake, I will always wish him the best in recovery.

I just also wish to never see him wear an Avalanche jersey again. My hope is that there is a mechanism that would allow the Avs to terminate his contract but where he is still able to tap resources for recovery if he's serious and wants them. I think the Avs have to terminate his contact and fight the NHLPA.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

We are so f***ed

I don't believe it. Athletes have pretty strict rules usually in contracts. He must have done a lot of shit. Avalanche will come out with some stuff and he will be gone.

 

[lionsDen]

You can head in the sand about about happened in Seattle, but the Avs clearly fixed that issue.

the avs absolutely fixed Seattle.. I’m with hench on this.

He’s got to go

 

[Drury_Sakic]

Doubt the Avs can terminate per the CBA, but if Joe can’t find a way to mutually terminate the contract while not having a cap penalty, he is not doing his job. The Avs have one of the wealthiest owners in the league, a named and known president in Sakic, and the NHL hates bad press.

the cap era has a history of contracts going away in situations like this. Avs need to flex their fiscal might and get their mulligan. I imagine Nuke will also just as much be willing to write off the contract and go home if there is some fiscal compensation along with it.

 

[Vk1ing]

Feel bad for the guy since he basically sacrificed his foot for our Stanley cup but he's f***ed us in two straight years. Losing him will kill us in the long term but if he isn't available does it even matter?

 

[Nihiliste]

Ruined two playoffs in a row. On the ice, this guy has been my favorite player of the modern Avs. With his off ice issues blowing up another run, I can't wait for him to get the f*** out.

I agree with @Cousin Eddie. You can't lose Kadri, Landeskog, and Nuke for nothing and still be a contender. We're into the 1st or 2nd round every year for 2-4 years stage followed by the cliff.

 

[Golden Foppa]

Feel bad for the guy since he basically sacrificed his foot for our Stanley cup but he's f***ed us in two straight years. Losing him will kill us in the long term but if he isn't available does it even matter?

Being forced to replace a guy who keeps screwing the team over is actually better for the team in the long term. They know that they need to find another player to fill his spot. As long as that guy is productive and he doesn't embarrass the team with hookers in his hotel room in the playoffs they're much better off going forward.

Are they going to find the hockey unicorn that he is when he's healthy and playing his A game? No, but a 20 goal scorer who is responsible defensively and doesn't do drugs and have hookers around the team hotel is better than a guy who is routinely not available because of his drug issues.

 

[henchman21]

Being forced to replace a guy who keeps screwing the team over is actually better for the team in the long term. They know that they need to find another player to fill his spot. As long as that guy is productive and he doesn't embarrass the team with hookers in his hotel room in the playoffs they're much better off going forward.

Are they going to find the hockey unicorn that he is when he's healthy and playing his A game? No, but a 20 goal scorer who is responsible defensively and doesn't do drugs and have hookers around the team hotel is better than a guy who is routinely not available because of his drug issues.

What about just hanging with porn stars?

 

[Cousin Eddie]

You know what’s crazy, 4 of the last 5 years the Avs lost somebody substantial mid playoffs which caused a drastic change in the series.

- both goalies/Landy
- Kadri
- Won cup
- Nichushkin
- Nichushkin

 

[Vk1ing]

Being forced to replace a guy who keeps screwing the team over is actually better for the team in the long term. They know that they need to find another player to fill his spot. As long as that guy is productive and he doesn't embarrass the team with hookers in his hotel room in the playoffs they're much better off going forward.

Are they going to find the hockey unicorn that he is when he's healthy and playing his A game? No, but a 20 goal scorer who is responsible defensively and doesn't do drugs and have hookers around the team hotel is better than a guy who is routinely not available because of his drug issues.

I agree it's better but our record with nuke vs our record without insane. We will have to try and replace him by committee. Hopefully, we get some cap relief and can find some good pieces

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Bodycam footage of Nuke getting pulled over on the way to Ball Arena this afternoon.

 

[pont]

Folks who bought tickets to this game should petition to get their money back. As others have stated, it feels like the Avs were less than honest with the Nuke situation last year and now the latest development. Huge fail on management here IMO.

Of course it won't happen but the egg on managements face is even bigger now.

 

[Golden Foppa]

Folks who bought tickets to this game should petition to get their money back. As others have stated, it feels like the Avs were less than honest with the Nuke situation last year and now the latest development. Huge fail on management here IMO.

Of course it won't happen but the egg on managements face is even bigger now.

I would be livid if I was someone who dropped 300/ticket on lower bowl seats tonight.

No heart, no pride, just a bunch of poor me BS from a team with players who don't want to play and have a coach who can't motivate them to play and fight through adversity.