Valeri Nichushkin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets by the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
Colorado received a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft for the 31-year-old forward.
Nichushkin had 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games with the Avalanche this season and four points (two goals, two assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Nichushkin has four years remaining on an eight-year contract he signed with Colorado on July 11, 2022.
"Valeri is a big, strong forward who skates exceptionally well, can score goals, win puck battles and doesn’t shy away from playing in the hard areas,” Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said. "He is an accomplished two-way player who competes at a high level and we are very excited to welcome him to the Blue Jackets family."
Selected by the Dallas Stars in the first round (No. 10) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Nichushkin has 357 points (154 goals, 203 assists) in 627 regular-season games for the Stars and Avalanche and 43 points (28 goals, 15 assists) in 91 playoff games. He won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.
Nichushkin was the third forward traded by Colorado in the past two weeks. Jack Drury was traded to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, and Ross Colton was traded to the Predators on June 16.
