Valeri Nichushkin breaks silence on controversial playoff scandal
Photo credit: TVA Sports
Valeri Nichushkin reflects on controversial playoff absence amid injuries.
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin opened up about his turbulent 2022-23 season, which culminated in a controversy during the playoffs�an event he had to watch from the sidelines due to injury.
The Russian player, who was sidelined for two months with bursitis and struggled with a persistent shoulder issue, shared his experiences in a candid interview with a Russian journalist, revealing both the physical and psychological toll it took on him.
« It was the most difficult season, there were a lot of injuries in the team all season. I missed 2 months due to bursitis. I also had a shoulder injury, which constantly bothered me.
I always had problems sleeping, but because of the pain in my shoulder, the situation with my sleep got worse. They did an MRI and they couldn't decide whether to have surgery or not. In the end, they decided not to do it and gave me injections in my shoulder.
These injections stopped helping and they decided to inject me with another drug. When we flew to Seattle, they decided that I would not play the match due to a shoulder injury, because I needed to not bother my shoulder for a while until the drug starts working and everyone on the team knew that I would not play until the end of the round.
It put a lot of pressure on the psyche and was very annoying. I had friends in Seattle at that moment and I made the wrong decision, we hung out with them at night and in the morning I flew to Denver. This girl in my room has nothing to do with me. The club advised me not to give any comments, and I myself was not emotionally ready to explain all this.
This was probably the wrong decision and it was necessary to tell the whole situation right away so that there weren't a bunch of different rumors. If we had made it to the second round, I would have been ready to play. »
I always had problems sleeping, but because of the pain in my shoulder, the situation with my sleep got worse. They did an MRI and they couldn't decide whether to have surgery or not. In the end, they decided not to do it and gave me injections in my shoulder.
These injections stopped helping and they decided to inject me with another drug. When we flew to Seattle, they decided that I would not play the match due to a shoulder injury, because I needed to not bother my shoulder for a while until the drug starts working and everyone on the team knew that I would not play until the end of the round.
It put a lot of pressure on the psyche and was very annoying. I had friends in Seattle at that moment and I made the wrong decision, we hung out with them at night and in the morning I flew to Denver. This girl in my room has nothing to do with me. The club advised me not to give any comments, and I myself was not emotionally ready to explain all this.
This was probably the wrong decision and it was necessary to tell the whole situation right away so that there weren't a bunch of different rumors. If we had made it to the second round, I would have been ready to play. »
This acknowledgment of a lapse in judgment came during a sensitive time as the Avalanche were vying for playoff success.
Nichushkin's admission not only sheds light on his personal struggles but also on the broader implications of his actions, which sparked widespread speculation and rumors.
Following the incident, Nichushkin faced a suspension that sidelines him until November 13, further impacting his rocky NHL journey marked by frequent injuries. This latest setback highlights a season fraught with challenges, not just physically but also in terms of public perception and professional accountability.
Valeri Nichushkin's situation serves as a poignant reminder of the pressures athletes face and the fine line they walk between personal decisions and professional obligations. As he prepares for his return, the hockey world watches closely to see if he can overcome his troubled past and return to form on the ice.
Credit: House of Hockey
House of hockey
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| POLL | ||
9 JUILLET | 58 ANSWERS Valeri Nichushkin breaks silence on controversial playoff scandal Do you think Nichushkin will ever play in the NHL again? | ||
| Yes | 16 | 27.6 % |
| No | 42 | 72.4 % |
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