With Valeri Nichushkin, Gabe Landeskog and Arrturi Lehkonen not available, the Colorado Avalanche could look to Casey Mittelstadt to play in front of the net on the power play.

While Mittelstadt’s role with the Avs is clear, who is going to play with him is not. Eventually, it could be two of Artturi Lehkonen, Valeri Nichushkin and Gabe Landeskog, but none of them are ...

Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin’s on-ice value is obvious once again after successful return After forward made presence felt vs. New Jersey, Nathan MacKinnon marveled at Colorado forward's ...

Nichushkin had one shot on goal and played 19:27 in his first game back. He skated on the second line for much of the game alongside center Casey Mittelstadt and wing Jonathan Drouin, who was also ...

DENVER — Casey Mittelstadt’s first game as the fourth-line center didn’t last long. But it wasn’t quit because of his own doing. Valeri Nichushkin left the game late in the second period ...

He still had 14:51 of ice time Tuesday, but that was partly because Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) left the contest in the second period.

Mittelstadt's fantasy value could increase once Valeri Nichushkin (lower body), who was placed on injured reserve Monday, is ready to return to the lineup.

Maybe Mittelstadt can rebound when Nichushkin returns and remind the Avalanche why they bet on him. But management may want more certainty on their second line, especially in the post-Rantanen era.

The last two exhibition games will determine who will be on the second line with Casey Mittelstadt.