Valeri Nichushkin and Jared Bednar are suddenly back in Colorado's summer spotlight.
That is the real shift here. Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts that he has started to hear Nichushkin's name a little bit, and with a player like this, even that much gets attention fast.
It matters because Colorado is not talking about a fringe winger. Nichushkin played 72 games in 2025-26 and finished with 17 goals and 49 points.
That is still real production. It is also the kind of number that can draw calls if the Avalanche think they need to rebalance money and depth instead of standing still.
The contract is what sharpens the conversation. Nichushkin carries a 6125000 cap hit, and his deal runs through 2029-2030.
Colorado also is not coming off a soft year. The Avalanche finished 55-16-11 with 121 points, so this is not a team looking for cosmetic moves. It is a contender trying to decide where it can get leaner without losing too much bite.
That is why Friedman's wording lands. He did not say a trade is close. He said the name is starting to circulate, and that usually means front offices are at least checking the shape of the market.
" Elliotte Friedman: Re Avalanche: I've started to hear Valeri Nichushkin's name a little bit - 32 Thoughts (6/22) "
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Elliotte Friedman just floated a blockbuster idea and fans can't stop talking about it
That is the tension in this file. Nichushkin is still a heavy winger who can play in a top six, work the walls, and make life harder around the crease when he is rolling. His playoff track still carries weight too, with 91 career postseason games and 43 points.
But the latest playoff line was quieter. He had 2 goals and 4 points in 12 games, which leaves room for debate when a contender starts looking for another level in May.
There is also a roster-building angle here. Reports around the Avalanche have framed this as a search for affordable depth, and moving a bigger-ticket winger is one of the few ways to open that door.
That does not make Nichushkin easy to replace. He is 6-foot-4, he can still push play off the forecheck, and Colorado knows exactly what he looks like beside high-end skill.
So this is where the story sits right now: not a full trade charge, not a dead rumor either. Valeri Nichushkin's name is out there, and for a team as aggressive as Colorado, that alone is enough to make the market pay attention.
Should the Avalanche seriously consider moving Valeri Nichushkin this summer?
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