The Colorado Avalanche are the top team in the National Hockey League and looking to capture more than just the President's Trophy in 2025-26 — but they'll have to manage without a key piece of the forward core for the foreseeable future.

Valeri Nichushkin , who was injured during Tuesday night's 4-1 victory over the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks, is week-to-week, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed.

The bench boss said on Wednesday that Nichushkin hadn't been “looked at yet,” but would miss some time with a lower-body injury. The diagnosis was confirmed on Thursday, although Bednar said that the ailment isn't as bad as originally feared. The team will have a clearer timeline on the length of the injury early next week.

It's unfortunate considering the Russian had managed fi

See Full Page