Valeri Nichushkin not under NHL investigation, deputy commissioner says

Valeri Nichushkin is not under investigation by the NHL regarding an April incident at the Avalanche team hotel in Seattle that prompted a police response, league deputy commissioner Bill Daly told reporters Saturday in Las Vegas before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

During Colorado’s first-round playoff series against the Kraken, a woman was found in Nichushkin’s hotel room who was so intoxicated that a team doctor called for an ambulance to take her to a hospital, according to a Seattle Police Department report.

Nichushkin left Seattle the day of the incident and did not play that night in Game 3 or the remainder of the series, which the Avalanche lost in seven games.

“We know exactly what happened and we think it was handled appropriately (by the team),” Daly said.

Daly said Nichushkin is available to play.

The team has declined to comment for more than a month about the incident, claiming Nichushkin has been absent from the team for personal reasons.