GRIT & GF
Valeri Nichushkin

Columbus Blue Jackets, Right wing

Valeri Nichushkin

  • Steady
  • Depth
Points, 2026–27
3
1 G, 2 A in 7 GP
Individual xG
1.3
1 goals from it
Ice time per game
16:25
10 shots on goal
xGF% at 5v5
43.5
share of chances while he's on

Valeri Nichushkin has 1 goal and 2 assists (3 points) in 7 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2026–27, with 10 shots on goal and 16:25 of ice time a game. His Grit & GF rating for 2026–27 is 76.6 out of 100, provisional until he has 15 to 20 games.

7 games in. The methodology requires 15 to 20 games to be accurate, so this season's rating still leans on the league average for his position and will move.

GRIT & GF

76.6050100
Rated above 66% of forwards
Goals above average
−0.3
Wins
−0.04
Physicality80thGF21thIntimidation25thChemistry46thClutch20th

Where the rating comes from

Weight × score in standard deviations. They sum to +0.34, which the normal curve turns into the rating.

Your weights

Under these weights he ranks above 65.7% of 402 rated players

The default weights are our call. Set your own; they get rescaled to add up to 100%.

Physicality

+0.53 SD · 80th percentile · weight 38% · +0.1 goals

What he does with his body: hits, blocks and takeaways (scaled toward per-game totals by his ice time), penalties drawn, and penalties taken against him.

  • Hitsper 60All situations, pulled toward average when the sample is small.5.367th pct
  • Blocked shotsper 60All situations.2.460th pct
  • Takeawaysper 60As recorded by the arena scorer, which varies by building.0.9868th pct
  • Penalties drawnper 60How often he gets under someone's skin enough to put his team on the power play.0.7039th pct
  • Penalties takenper 60Counts against him, at half the weight of penalties drawn.0.4086th pct
  • Ice time× position averagePer-game ice time against his position's average. Physical rates are scaled by this to the power 0.75.0.9365th pct

Percentiles are against 402 rated forwards in 2026-27, on 88 minutes of his 5-on-5 time. Hits, blocks and takeaways count toward the rating and are worth zero goals until a study shows otherwise. Model grit-0.5.

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Game notes

Written the morning after from the night's stats, for games where he did something worth a sentence.

  1. at STL

    Tuesday, April 7

    Volume

    Valeri Nichushkin had 11 shot attempts. Six reached the net and two went in. His average this season was 4.5. The Avalanche beat the Blues 3-1.

  2. at WPG

    Saturday, March 14

    Volume

    Valeri Nichushkin had 10 shot attempts. Seven got through to the goalie, and none went in. He came in averaging 4.7 attempts a game. He played 23:03, about 5 minutes over his average. The Avalanche lost 3-1 to the Jets.

  3. vs SJS

    Wednesday, February 4

    Big night

    Three points for Valeri Nichushkin: three assists. He has 34 points in 46 games this season. He played 20:44 and had two shots on goal. The Avalanche beat the Sharks 4-2.

  4. vs DET

    Monday, February 2

    Ice time

    Valeri Nichushkin played 24:02, about 6 minutes more than his average this season. He has 31 points in 45 games this season. The Avalanche fell 2-0 to the Red Wings.

  5. vs STL

    Wednesday, December 31

    Hat trick

    Valeri Nichushkin scored three goals. That was his 11th goal of the season. He played 17:05 and had six shots on goal. It finished 6-1 for the Avalanche.

  6. at VGK

    Saturday, December 27

    Volume

    Valeri Nichushkin had 10 shot attempts. Seven reached the net and none went in. His average this season was 4.7. It finished 6-5 for the Avalanche in a shootout.

  7. at MIN

    Sunday, December 21

    Streak

    Valeri Nichushkin has a point in 5 straight games. He has 21 points in 27 games this season. He played 19:27 and had three shots on goal. It finished 5-1 for the Avalanche.

  8. vs NSH

    Saturday, December 13

    Volume

    Valeri Nichushkin had 9 shot attempts. Eight reached the net and one went in. His average this season was 4.5. The Avalanche beat the Predators 4-2.

Player card

Percentile among 378 forwards with enough games this season. 50 is the median.

Scoring

  • Ice time per game16:25
    63
  • Points per 601.57
    38
  • Goals per 600.52
    38
  • Individual xG per 600.65
    29
  • Shots per 605.2
    36

5-on-5 play

  • xG for per 60, on ice2.54
    54
  • xG against per 60, on ice3.29
    10
  • xGF%43.5%
    24

Physical

  • Hits per 606.8
    69
  • Blocks per 602.6
    59
  • Penalty minutes per 600.0
    88

Skating and shooting

NHL EDGE puck and player tracking, 2026–27. Percentiles are the league's, against all skaters.

Skating

  • Top speed21.5 mph
    47
  • Bursts over 20 mph8
    39
  • Distance skated21 mi
    59

Shooting

  • Hardest shot75.2 mph
    22
  • Shots on goal10
    48
  • Shooting %10.0%
    36

Zone time

  • Offensive zone time42.3%
    55
  • Offensive zone time, even strength41.2%
    52

Who he plays with

His most-used linemates at 5-on-5 this season, with what happened while they were out together.

LinematesGamesTOIShot attemptsxGGoalsxG share
Sean Monahan, Conor Garland635:0629–441.4–2.10–140%
Sean Monahan, Dmitri Voronkov428:3824–261.5–1.31–154%
Sean Monahan, Danton Heinen33:544–40.1–0.30–019%
Conor Garland, Adam Fantilli62:237–10.2–0.00–085%

Where he shoots from

His unblocked shots this season, attacking right. 1 goals from 16 attempts.

GoalShot or miss

Last 20 games

Columns are his individual expected goals, the quality of his own chances. Dots are goals he scored.

ixGGoal
0.000.501.00
04-1610-18

By season

SeasonGPGAPSOGixGTOI/GPHitsBlkxGF% 5v5
2026–277123101.316:2513543.5
2025–267217324916023.417:44554758.2
2024–254321133411818.419:44552851.9
2023–245428255315824.321:21743853.5

Last 20 games

DateTOIGASOGixGHitsBlkPIM
2026-10-1816:330010.09300
2026-10-1717:440000.12220
2026-10-1315:390120.16200
2026-10-1016:281040.51300
2026-10-0916:010010.23210
2026-10-0316:470020.14020
2026-10-0115:450100.00100
2026-05-248:340020.16200
2026-05-2215:070020.19110
2026-05-2013:391030.35300
2026-05-1315:320020.05300
2026-05-1119:090030.32220
2026-05-0913:250010.04100
2026-05-0517:561010.85220
2026-05-0315:240220.26100
2026-04-2614:380000.15010
2026-04-2317:290010.02100
2026-04-2120:080010.07010
2026-04-1916:240010.27100
2026-04-1618:130200.11000