Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was linked to an alcohol-related incident in his Seattle hotel room Saturday afternoon, according to the Denver Post.
The outlet reported that an intoxicated woman was found when Avalanche team staffers checked Nichushkin’s room, and a team doctor called an ambulance to transport the woman from the Four Seasons Hotel to a hospital.
The woman allegedly hit the team doctor, according to the Seattle Police Department report cited by the Denver Post, but the doctor didn’t want to press charges.
A police department spokesperson told the Denver Post that there isn’t any corresponding criminal investigation related to the incident.
The woman, 28, said that she was from Russia, born in Ukraine and “she should never have come to the United States and that some guy took her passport and that he was a bad person,” according to the Denver Post.
Nichushkin has been away from the team and its first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Seattle Kraken due to personal reasons, missing the last three games.
According to the Seattle Times, there wasn’t a family connection between Nichushkin and the woman.
The circumstances surrounding Nichushkin’s absence from the team remain unclear, other than head coach Jared Bednar saying that it’s not related to discipline or a legal issue, according to the Denver Post.
The Denver Gazette reported that the absence also hasn’t been injury-related, and the Avalanche have remained in touch with Nichushkin while he has been away from the team but haven’t provided any clarity about a potential return this postseason.
The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported on the incident earlier in the week, though he didn’t mention specific details but mentioned that it occurred in the team hotel and was an alcohol-related incident.
Nichushkin emerged as a key piece of Colorado’s lineup during its run to the Stanley Cup last season, and he signed an eight-year contract extension that kicked in for 2022-23.
He scored 17 goals and added 30 assists this year, and in Game 2, two days before his absence from the team began, Nichushkin scored a goal as Colorado evened its series.
The Avalanche now trail, 3-2, entering Game 6 on Friday in Seattle.