Avalanche Make Lineup Changes Ahead of Devils Game

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told reporters that Valeri Nichushkin will not play Friday against the New Jersey Devils due to a lower-body injury. With that, he noted that Martin Kaut will be replacing him in the lineup.

It is very bad news that Nichushkin is unavailable for the Avalanche, as he has been one of the league's best players at the start of the season. Fresh off of signing an eight-year extension with the Avalanche, the 27-year-old winger has seven goals and five assists in just seven games on the year. Massive totals from the former first-round pick, but now, unfortunately, his hot start has to be put on pause.

Kaut, on the other hand, will be desperately trying to show the Avalanche that he is meant to play at the NHL level. The former first-round pick has bounced back and forth between the NHL and AHL this campaign. In four games with Colorado this season, he has zero points and a minus-1 rating. Look for him to get on the scoresheet against New Jersey and get his first NHL point since the 2019-20 season.