Blue Jackets acquire Valeri Nichushkin from Avalanche in exchange for draft picks
Blue Jackets acquire Valeri Nichushkin from Avalanche in exchange for draft picks
Nichushkin, 31, has four years left on his current deal and a 12-team no-trade list. Chris Tanouye / Freestyle Photography / Getty Images
By Peter Baugh and Aaron PortzlineJune 25, 2026 Updated 5:37 pm EDTThe Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, the teams announced Thursday.
Nichushkin, 31, had 283 points in 404 games over seven seasons with the Avalanche and was a key member of their 2022 Stanley Cup-winning team. He signed an eight-year, $6.125 million average annual value extension after that season. He has four years left on that deal and a 12-team no-trade list.
Nichushkin gives the Blue Jackets’ top six a boost in several areas: speed, which they desperately need, but also size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and scoring.
He’s a bona fide 20-goal scorer, and will likely have a chance to play on the top line with young center Adam Fantilli and right winger Kirill Marchenko, or on the second line with veteran center Sean Monahan and either Conor Garland, Kent Johnson or Dmitri Voronkov.
“Valeri is a big, strong forward who skates exceptionally well, can score goals, win puck battles and doesn’t shy away from playing in the hard areas,” Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. “He is an accomplished two-way player who competes at a high level and we are very excited to welcome him to the Blue Jackets family.”
Drafted by Dallas with the No. 10 pick in 2013, Nichushkin failed to stick with the Stars, going to his native Russia for two seasons and ultimately getting bought out after the 2018-19 season. He revitalized his career with the Avalanche, working his way up the lineup until he was a two-way force in a top-six role. He appeared on Selke ballots in four of his seven seasons with the team, and his point production peaked in 2023-24, when he had 28 goals and 53 points in 54 games. During Colorado’s Stanley Cup run, Nichushkin had nine goals and 15 points in 20 games.
During the 2023 playoffs, an Avalanche team physician encountered a woman who was heavily intoxicated when checking on Nichushkin before Game 3 of Colorado’s first-round series with the Seattle Kraken, according to a Seattle Police Department Behavioral Crisis Report obtained by The Athletic. Nichushkin missed the rest of the series for what the team designated as “personal reasons,” and Colorado lost to the Kraken in seven games. In January 2024, in the midst of his strong 2023-24 campaign, Nichushkin entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He returned to game action that March and got off to a scorching start in the playoffs, scoring nine goals in eight games. But once again, his postseason was cut short: He entered the player assistance program again — this time in Stage 3, meaning he violated the terms of the program, which is a confidential initiative that provides players help for personal issues, including mental health and substance abuse. He was suspended without pay for a minimum of six months before Game 4 of Colorado’s second-round series against the Dallas Stars. The Avalanche lost two of three games without him and were eliminated in double overtime of Game 6. Nichushkin returned to game action when eligible in November 2024 and has not been in the player assistance program since.
Nichushkin had 17 goals and 49 points in 72 games last season, then scored only two goals and had four points in 12 playoff games. He missed Colorado’s final game of the Western Conference final with a lower-body injury. The Vegas Golden Knights swept the Avalanche that round, ending Colorado’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning season.
By trading Jack Drury (RFA), Ross Colton ($4 million AAV cap hit) and Nichushkin ($6.125 million AAV) this offseason, Colorado has created added salary cap flexibility.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
