The Colorado Avalanche have yet to have forward Valeri Nichuskin in their lineup in the calendar year of 2025. He hasn’t played since their 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on New Year’s Eve. He’s already missed six games,

So many players were on the ice at Colorado Avalanche practice Monday that callup Jason Polin didn’t have a stall in the team’s locker room. In total, eight players who hadn’t been available two days ago when the Avs played in Winnipeg were on the ice at Family Sports Center.

Two veteran Avalanche stars have been sidelined with injuries. And the duo are still a ways away from returning to action..

Nichushkin has already missed six games due to his lower-body injury but seems no closer to getting back into the lineup. Given his recovery timeline, it seems likely the 29-year-old Russian will be designated for injured reserve sooner rather than later.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar has stressed the importance of winning games within the division, so Saturday's game against the visiting Dallas Stars has more meaning for both teams.

Despite Blackwood's incredible play, the Avs have been scuffling in the new year. They've gone 4-2-1 in 2025, alternating wins and losses as their offence has started to dry up. Contrast that with the Oilers, who have won seven of their past eight, including two shutouts from Stuart Skinner and five four-goal nights from the offence.

Welcome to Evan’s mailbag, where each week Avalanche reporter Evan Rawal answers all your Avalanche- and hockey-related questions. Mailbag questions can be sent to.

The Avalanche scored the first three goals but ended up falling 4-3 to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. It was a disappointing ending to a game where the road team had played the previous night and the Avs seemingly let up in the second period.

When the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers get together, there’s an overflow of offensive firepower available.

There’s no shame in getting beat by Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers are the rare team that can create more puck magic than the Avs. Their firepower can be unnerving, and their possession time can be frustrating.

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has provided the latest update on injured captain Gabriel Landeskog, absent from play since 2022.

The Colorado Avalanche’s recent three-game road trip was a mixed bag against three Central Division teams. They lost to the last team in the league, beat an injury-riddled adversary and got shut out by their far-north rivals.