Colorado sports notes: Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suffers setback in return from lower-body injury, status week-to-week
Forward Valeri Nichushkin suffered a setback in his return from a lower-body injury and doesn't figure to be back in the Colorado Avalanche lineup anytime soon.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar described Nichushkin's status on Wednesday as “week-to-week.”
“Any time without Val is worrisome. Now we don’t have a solid timeline on his return,” Bednar said after the morning skate as the Avalanche prepared to host the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night. “Whenever you have a setback, you kind of work backward, start from the ground up again, and start building back up.”
Nichushkin appeared close to a possible return as he practiced with the team Sunday. But he didn’t make it through the entire workout.
“It’s not fun. I’ve been there, too,” forward Mikko Rantanen said of dealing with injuries and setbacks. “You feel like you’re getting back and feeling better, and then something happens. So mentally, it’s probably the toughest part. The rehab, you're going to have to do it to get back, but mentally, it’s hard too. That’s what I remember from my experience. He’s a veteran guy, so he’ll be back, for sure.”
Nichushkin was suspended last May for at least six months and placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. It was an announcement that came in the middle of Colorado’s playoff run, marking the second straight postseason where the right winger was unavailable because of circumstances away from the ice.
The 29-year-old Nichushkin missed the opening 17 games. He made his season debut on Nov. 15 against Washington. He has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games.
Nichushkin, who hasn't played since New Year's Eve, is a big piece of the Avalanche's high-powered offense. Colorado is 209-74-27 with Nichushkin in the lineup.
“Everyone wants to be out there,” forward Logan O’Connor said. “You may try and push yourself a little quicker than you probably should and it can result in a setback. It's just the way it is. It's motivation to come back and help guys out, help the team out. It's unfortunate what happened to Val.”
Big 12 is bringing its football media days back to Texas after a quick trip to Las Vegas
IRVING, Texas (AP) — What happened in Vegas didn't stay there for the Big 12 Conference, which is returning its football media days to Texas.
The Big 12 announced Wednesday that the preseason gathering of coaches and players from its 16 schools will be held July 8-9 at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. That is part of The Star complex that is the headquarters of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas hosted the event last year.
“Texas is the backyard of the Big 12 Conference,” said Scott Draper, the league's chief football and competition officer.
AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys' home stadium in Arlington where the Big 12 plays its championship game each season, was unavailable last summer and again this summer. Work is being done there outside the football season to prepare the venue for hosting World Cup games in 2026.
The Big 12 football media days were held in Frisco in 2017 and 2018. The event was moved to AT&T Stadium in 2019, and after no in-person gathering before the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, was there again from 2021-23.