Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin underwent surgery on his ankle and will be sidelined at least a month, head coach Jared Bednar announced Tuesday.
Bednar also said defenseman Bowen Byram is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Nichushkin, 27, sustained the injury in Colorado’s 3-2 shootout victory over the New York Rangers on Oct. 25.
He had enjoyed a sizzling start to the season by registering then-team-leading totals in both goals (seven) and points (12). That was quite the start in the first season of an eight-year, $49 million contract he signed with the Avalanche this past summer.
Nichushkin has 186 points (78 goals, 108 assists) in 412 career games with the Dallas Stars (2013-16, 2018-19) and Avalanche. He was selected by the Stars with the 10th overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft.
Byram, 21, has five points (two goals, three assists) in 10 games this season.
He has 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 59 career games since being selected by Colorado with the fourth overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media