Avalanche, Nichushkin agree on 8-year extension worth $49M

The Colorado Avalanche signed pending unrestricted free-agent forward Valeri Nichushkin to an eight-year extension, the team announced Monday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $6.125 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Nichushkin enjoyed a breakout season in 2021-22, logging a career-high 25 goals and 27 assists in 62 contests during his third campaign with the Avalanche.

The 27-year-old went on to dazzle in the playoffs, putting up 15 points and two game-winning goals in 20 games while helping Colorado clinch the Stanley Cup. He also led the Avalanche with four goals in the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"Signing Val to a long-term deal was a top priority for us this offseason, as he would have been one of the most sought-after forwards on the open market," Avalanche president of hockey operations Joe Sakic said.

"Val is a big, strong, fast, tenacious winger who is relentless on the puck. ... He is such an important player in our lineup and a huge reason why we won the Stanley Cup."

He also boasted strong underlying numbers. The Avalanche controlled 61.4% of the shot attempts and 62.8% of the expected goals for with Nichushkin on the ice at five-on-five in the postseason, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Nichushkin could have hit the market on July 13 after playing out the final season of a two-year deal with a $2.5 million cap hit.

The Avalanche acquired him as a free agent in August 2019. Originally the Stars' 10th overall selection in the 2013 draft, Nichushkin has 174 points in 405 career NHL games split between Dallas and Colorado.