Valeri Nichushkin

Where he fits on Columbus right now.

What he does better or worse than most players at his position.

Every rating, against other forwards.

This season’s 3 games blended with last season’s 72, and pulled toward the average forward by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

He played for Colorado Avalanche last season. Habits that travel with a player (shooting, hitting, penalties) still use that season in full; setting up goals, finishing, faceoffs and power-play chances depend more on linemates and role, so they lean on it less. We measured how much each one carries over for players who change teams.

Shooting volume, creating his own chances, shot blocking, hardest shot and distance skated compare wingers with wingers, because centers and wingers really differ there. Everything else compares all forwards.

This season’s 3 games only, pulled toward the average forward. Expect wide ranges this early.

Driving play at 5-on-5

• Creating chances
  Along for the rideDrives play

  +0.14 expected goals /60top 20%

  −0.03 expected goals /60bottom 37%

• Preventing chances
  Chances against riseShuts it down

  −0.12 expected goals against /60top 20%

  −0.04 expected goals against /60average

Scoring

• Shooting volume
  Rarely shootsFires away

  13.4 shot attempts /60top 39%

  11.6 shot attempts /60bottom 35%

• Creating his own chances
  Few chancesDangerous

  0.81 expected goals /60top 32%

  0.73 expected goals /60bottom 44%

• Finishing
  Below expectedSniper

  −0.7 goals above expected /100 shotsbottom 21%

  −0.4 goals above expected /100 shotsaverage

• Setting up goals
  Rarely sets upPlaymaker

  0.55 first assists /60average

  0.55 first assists /60average

Special teams

• Power-play chances
  QuietThreat

  1.84 expected goals /60top 43%

  1.82 expected goals /60too few games

• Shorthanded threat
  Pure defensePower kill

  0.75 expected goals for /60bottom 23%

  0.90 expected goals for /60too few games

Physical and puck

• Hitting
  Avoids contactPhysical

  hitting score 58bottom 42%2.63 hits /60bottom 34%

  hitting score 68average3.71 hits /60average

• Shot blocking
  Rarely blocksShot blocker

  blocking score 107top 39%2.26 blocks /60average

  blocking score 110top 35%3.71 blocks /60top 8%

• Takeaways
  RarePuck thief

  takeaway score 115top 26%1.09 takeaways /60top 32%

  takeaway score 107top 34%1.24 takeaways /60top 19%

Penalties and faceoffs

• Drawing penalties
  RarelyDraws calls

  0.81 penalties drawn /60average

  0.84 penalties drawn /60top 42%

• Staying out of the box
  Often penalizedClean

  0.40 penalties taken /60top 11%

  0.62 penalties taken /60top 44%

• Faceoffs
  Loses drawsWins draws

  50.6% wontoo few games

  50.6% wontoo few games

Hitting, shot blocking and takeaways are arena-adjusted scores (100 is the average forward); switch “Hits and takeaways” to Raw in the settings to see the numbers as recorded. How the ratings work.

Where his shots come from, and how his misses miss.

Speed, bursts, shot power and where he spends his shifts, from the NHL’s own tracking (NHL EDGE).

• Top speed
  SlowerBurner

  23.5 mphtop 8%

  20.7 mphbottom 19%

• Fast bursts
  RareFrequent

  8.6 bursts /60top 19%

  4.9 bursts /60average

• Hardest shot
  SofterCannon

  87.7 mphbottom 44%

  72.3 mphbottom 19%

• Distance skated1st1st
  ShorterCovers ground

  10.39 miles /60top 1%

  10.88 miles /60top 1%

• Time in the offensive zone
  DefendingAttacking

  42.5% of his timetop 21%

  40.0% of his timebottom 39%

Top speed and hardest shot are his best single moments over this season and lastthis season; bursts and distance are per 60 minutes of his ice time. Tracking data: NHL EDGE.