NHL Rumor Mill – September 21, 2026
How will the Avalanche replace Valeri Nichushkin? Could a former Canadiens winger be a fit with the Red Wings? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak wondered how the Colorado Avalanche will adjust to the absence of Valeri Nichushkin, who was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the offseason.
Former Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (NHL Images).
“When Nichushkin was available and in form, he was one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL,” Masisak wrote, describing him as a “massively valuable player on a team-friendly contract.”
Masisak asked how the Avalanche could replace Nichushkin, especially after trading him for salary-cap reasons.
The Avalanche signed free-agent winger Jaden Schwartz to replace some of Nichushkin’s offense. They could look to veterans such as Artturi Lehkonen, Nicolas Roy, or recently acquired Zachary L’Heureux to help fill the void on the penalty kill.
Masisak noted that Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic plans to accumulate salary-cap space during this season to have more available at the March 1 trade deadline. He could use that space at the deadline to add an impact forward if necessary to solve the riddle of replacing Nichushkin.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I realize this isn’t a trade rumor, but it will be worth monitoring as the season progresses. The Avalanche could surface in the rumor mill if they can’t adequately replace Nichushkin from within during this season.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently wondered if former Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine would be a fit with the Detroit Red Wings.
LeBrun cited a piece by Max Bultman in The Athletic about whether recently acquired winger Viktor Arvidsson might help the Red Wings’ scoring at even strength.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine is among the few notable players remaining in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. The Canadiens mostly used the 28-year-old winger as a power-play specialist. He might help the Red Wings on the man advantage, but less so at even strength.
Laine is NOT a fit for the Wings. Laine is a PP specialist. The Wings PP is fine, they need 5 on 5 scoring, which Laine is weak in. Arvidson is an even strength scorer. The only thing the Wings did right this summer is to get Arvidson.
Came here to post exactly this. He’s not going to help them 5 on 5 and if he’s not going to help them 5 on 5 then what’s the point?
You may want to revisit your thoughts on the Wings’ power play Johnny. Larkin was a prime contributor last year. Currently hurt and while it doesn’t seem long term neither is his tenure with the Wings. Kane had 19 points on the PP; he is gone and hasn’t been replaced.
Laine is best as just a PP specialist but he would be an upgrade for the Wings. They have almost 20 million in cap space. Laine could be signed for a million bucks, and if he doesn’t work out, so what?
He would want a NMC and not be waived or sent down. But with that cap space it would not be a big deal. I really do not like his 1-way play. Even Ovi was convinced to back check.
Unfortunately Laine has shown an extremely limited skill set that has him pigeon holed as a PP specialist and little more. For his sake, hopefully some of his warts were injury related and if he could show a little more compete and energy, and use his size to his benefit, he could still be an attractive piece for someone with depth issues. Problem is, he’d need to swallow his pride and sign an AHL deal and showcase a more well rounded skill set before someone takes that risk and offers an NHL deal. Playing overseas would just keep him out of mind, out of sight, and would probably be his closing chapter.
Laine should sign with some European team and fast. His NHL career is deader than last month’s meat loaf.
Getting schwartz on board is a good add for the Avalanche ! Losing big val is a void but they already got the guys to do it but WILL they do what val was willing to do because he has the big body to do it . Schwartz, Roy, Nelson can do it. Lehkon al
ways does it and takes a beating but does it anyway ! Schwartz was AVS killer on blues and kraken; it’s good addition. He plays the right way and scores because he is around the net. The guy from Nashville l’heureux is interesting and he could be a significant contributor.
What’s going to be really interesting, is seeing how Nichushkin fits in Columbus. This is going to go either way, either he will be a bust and in the trading block at the deadline or he’s going raise his game to previous levels like he did with the Avs.
I dont think Laine is a fit anywhere. Have we ever seen a more one dimensional player? Doubt he would get signed before Taresenko does and he plays a more complete game. thx
He’s going to get a contract, when some team starts off slow and is having issues scoring goals
…have we ever seen a more one dimensional player?
Jeff Skinner calling on Line 2.
Red Wings final day of camp yesterday:
Instead of having a regular scrimmage, they had a power play competition with the Red Wings vs the AHL Griffins. The Griffins won 6-0, lol.
Nichkushin could be counted on during the playoffs anyway. Didn’t even the Ava suspend him one year