Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin is in a positive headspace after returning to the ice Friday night for his first game since a six-month suspension.
"I spent (the) last six months pretty much working every day," Nichushkin told Corey Masisak of the Denver Post. "I have people in Russia I work with (year-round), and we have made huge progress. I have changed my lifestyle, changed in how (I) work out in (the) gym. A lot of different things. I feel amazing. I feel like my mind is in the right spot right now. My shape, even like today - I was thinking it would be way harder, but I feel pretty good."
Nichushkin entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program twice last season. He missed 22 regular-season games, then he was admitted to Stage 3 of the program for a failed drug test during the second round of the playoffs.
Reinstatement isn't guaranteed if Nichushkin enters Stage 4 of the program, but the 29-year-old believes he's on the right track.
"It was tough," he said. "A lot of work. A lot of things. I think I have made huge progress with my mental health and hope that it never happens again."
Nichushkin has been a vital piece of Colorado's attack in recent years when available. He's logged 152 points in 169 games over the last three seasons and collected 15 playoff points in 2022 to help the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup.
His standout performance that postseason was rewarded with an eight-year, $49-million contract extension.
Nichushkin went pointless and was a minus-3 in his season debut, a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.