After a hellish final year in Dallas, Valeri Nichushkin feels born again with Avalanche

It was every bit as bad as the numbers would indicate. For Valeri Nichushkin, the 2018-19 season he spent with the Dallas Stars was his come-to-Jesus moment, one that lasted about nine months.

That’s a figure of speech, the Jesus part. No, Nichushkin and I did not talk about his religious preferences today at his locker stall. But he’s giving thanks to someone or something, for being on the right path again in his NHL career.