Back in 2022, the Colorado Avalanche faced a major decision following their Stanley Cup victory: re-sign center Nazem Kadri or winger Valeri Nichushkin. Both had been vital contributors to the championship run and were top targets in free agency. Ultimately, the Avalanche chose Nichushkin, while Kadri departed for Calgary. At the time, many—including the author—believed Nichushkin was the better fit for Colorado’s top six.
In hindsight, the decision remains complicated. Kadri’s performance in Calgary has been underwhelming, but Nichushkin has missed critical playoff games due to injuries and off-ice issues. Most notably, if Nichushkin enters the NHL Player Assistance Program again, he could face a year-long suspension with no guarantee of return.
Colorado’s issues have gone beyond just Nichushkin’s absences. The team has struggled to fill the second-line center role vacated by Kadri. They tried multiple players, including Ryan Johansen—whose lack of speed and reported locker room issues made him a poor fit—and Casey Mittelstadt, who didn’t meet expectations. Though they eventually found a promising option in Brock Nelson, it came at the cost of trading top prospect Calum Ritchie.
If the Avalanche had retained Kadri, the ripple effect could have changed everything. Johansen might never have joined the team, and young players like Alex Newhook or veterans like JT Compher might still be around. Even Evan Rodrigues—now a key piece on the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers—could have stayed.
While Nichushkin remains an important part of the Avalanche lineup, the team’s ongoing instability at second-line center raises doubts. Kadri hasn’t flourished in Calgary, but he may have continued to thrive in Colorado’s system. Looking back, keeping Kadri might have prevented the team from cycling through multiple players and trading valuable assets in search of consistency.
With five years left on Nichushkin’s contract, there’s still time for him to prove the team made the right call. But as of now, the decision remains one of the biggest “what-ifs” in recent Avalanche history.
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