Valeri Nichushkin returns to Denver; Kaapo Kahkonen arrives for Avalanche

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.

The Avs claimed Kahkonen on waivers Oct. 11 from the Winnipeg Jets. The goaltender had been waiting in Canada for the immigration process to play out, but he joined the Avalanche for practice Saturday.

Kahkonen has a .899 career save percentage in 139 NHL games, including a .898 mark last season in 37 contests split between San Jose and New Jersey.

The Avalanche has a team save percentage of .780, which is last in the NHL. The gap between Colorado and the second-worst team, Nashville, is larger than the difference between the Predators and the Kings, who are 19th.

Alexandar Georgiev has started all five games but was pulled from the first two. His save percentage is at .811 after stopping 17 of 20 shots Friday night in the club’s first win of the season. Justus Annunen, who had a .928 save percentage in 14 games last season, has allowed four goals on 17 shots (.765) in his two relief appearances.

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Originally Published: October 19, 2024 at 11:34 a.m.