The Colorado Avalanche benefited from a standout performance by Valery Nichushkin, a forward who emerged as the most valuable Russian contributor this season in the NHL, according to the league’s official site. His on-ice impact earned him notable recognition in the overall league-wide usefulness metric, underscoring his role as a key player for the Avalanche and a consistent driver of possession, scoring opportunities, and two-way play during a demanding schedule.
Across 53 regular season games, the 28-year-old Nichushkin produced a notable presence on both ends of the rink, contributing in ways that extended beyond traditional scoring stats. His positive influence helped stabilize Colorado’s forward group, fueling transition play and adding depth to the team’s offensive structure. Trailing closely in the same evaluative framework was Pavel Buchnevich of the St. Louis Blues, who finished with a plus-14, reflecting his steady two-way play and reliable team contributions in a demanding role. In a tight race for third place, Alexander Romanov of the New York Islanders and Mikhail Sergachev of the Tampa Bay Lightning each posted plus-13, highlighting a strong cohort of Russian players delivering across multiple franchises and reinforcing the breadth of impact these players had on their teams’ success.
On the other end of the spectrum, Alexander Barabanov of the San Jose Sharks finished with a minus-30, representing the lower end of the Russian players in this specific metric for the season and signaling the challenges his team faced in certain games. His situation underscores how team context and role allocation can shape individual evaluative outcomes in a league-wide comparison and how players adapt to evolving tactical demands across a full season.
Earlier updates described that San Jose had finalized a rookie contract agreement with Russian defenseman Artem Guryev. The deal spans three seasons, with terms not disclosed at the time of the announcement. Guryev, now 19, has spent multiple seasons in North America after beginning his professional journey in Russia. He entered the NHL through the 2021 Entry Draft, selected 135th overall in the fifth round by the Sharks, a milestone that marked the start of his progression in North American hockey and a potential pathway to increased responsibility within the organization as he develops各 against stiff competition in the league. This signing reflects the Sharks’ continued investment in young talent and their belief in Guryev’s potential to contribute to the team’s defensive depth and long-term prospects. (Source: NHL official site)