The Avalanche could have a key winger back in the near future as head coach Jared Bednar told reporters including Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette (Twitter link) that Valeri Nichushkin is getting close to returning. He has been out since suffering a lower-body injury at the end of December. He also missed the first month of the campaign while being in the Player Assistance Program but when he has been in the lineup, Nichushkin has been quite productive. He has 11 goals and six assists through 21 games so far this season, good for eighth in team scoring despite missing more than half of their games.