The Colorado Avalanche have signed 24-year-old winger Valeri Nichushkin to a one-year NHL contract for the upcoming 2019-20 season. Nichushkin was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, but failed to get his career going after two stints with the Dallas Stars. The Russian has had a very successful KHL career, but seems determined to make a life in North America work.
The deal with the Avalanche has been confirmed to be $850k in both the NHL and AHL. Nichushkin would require waivers to be sent to the AHL Colorado Eagles, but his contract would be fully buried and the team would not incur a cap hit to send him down.