Valeri Nichushkin breaks silence about intoxicated girl found in his Seattle hotel room

Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin broke his silence on an incident involving an intoxicated woman found in his hotel room in Seattle. Back in April last year, a heavily intoxicated woman was discovered at the Four Seasons Hotel, where the Avs were staying for Game 3 of their first-round series against Seattle.

According to reports, a team physician found the woman while checking on Nichushkin before the game. Nichushkin had an interview with Russian YouTuber Mikhail Cherkasv when he visited Denver just before the NHL playoffs started.

It is worth noting that the interview took place before the 29-year-old entered stage three of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and got suspended for six months in May.

The interview was conducted in Russian, and Evan Rawal from Colorado Hockey Now had it translated into English, shedding light on the conversation. Here's what Nichushkin said of the Seattle hotel room incident:

"I had friends in Seattle at that moment and I made the wrong decision, we hung out with them at night and in the morning I flew to Denver. This girl in my room has nothing to do with me. The club advised me not to give any comments, and I myself was not emotionally ready to explain all this."

"This was probably the wrong decision and it was necessary to tell the whole situation right away so that there weren’t a bunch of different rumors. If we had made it to the second round, I would have been ready to play.”

Nichushkin also talked about his struggles during the challenging season plagued by injuries. He revealed missing a significant two-month period due to battling a troublesome shoulder injury that affected his sleep.

Despite undergoing MRI scans, the medical team faced a dilemma regarding the necessity of surgery. Eventually, opting against surgery, Valeri Nichushkin received injections in his shoulder, which initially provided relief but later necessitated a different medication.

The decision to sit out the match against Seattle due to his shoulder injury was made to allow a new treatment to take effect, with the Avs aware of his absence until the round's end.

These physical setbacks not only impacted Val's physical setbacks but also took a toll on his mental state, adding pressure and frustration to an already challenging season.

When could Valeri Nichushkin return to the NHL?

Valeri Nichushkin playing for the Colorado Avalanche (IMAGN)

Earlier in May, the NHL suspended Valeri Nichushkin for six months after failing a drug test, resulting in his placement in stage three of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Nichushkin's suspension periods extend until November 13, marking the earliest possible return to the Avalanche. However, his return to the team depends on securing clearance from the NHL.