“Nichushkin is a machine!” The coach told how the Russian striker “Colorado” returned from injury

It happened at the Artemy Panarin ice rink, where a charity match was held last year – Arena Play in Kommunarka. Coach Pavel Markidan works there, with whom he has been training for five years Valery Nichushkin .

As you remember, Nichushkin finished the Stanley Cup Finals with an injury, despite scoring four goals against Tampa in the deciding series.

Valery was taken out of the championship locker room on a cart because he couldn’t walk. Summer went for treatment and he came to Panarin’s current charity game on crutches.

Nichushkin will soon return to Denver. And shortly before the start, under the strict control of Markidan, he began to skate on the ice again.

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“I had to get permission from Toronto”

– Valera went on the ice for the first time in quite a long time, – said his coach Pavel Markidan. “It was emotionally difficult for him. No, Valera was impatient, but he was worried about his leg due to an injury.

But we walked out and everything was great – we worked with a smile on our faces. Ride, looked at the ankle. We put more emphasis on the injured leg. We worked on different types of elements – brake, carefully on one leg, then – on two. They did not force the preparation, everything was done with care.

– In order for Nichushkin to start training on the ice, a photo of his leg had to be sent to Toronto, where three council doctors decided the Colorado hockey player could start training on the field again. So no?

– Exactly. At first there was recovery at rest. Then, little by little, tests are carried out. It was said, “Yes, now you can do rehabilitation.”

Now we have received approval from North America to go on the ice. And without thinking twice, we did.

Does the training plan also have to be approved by the NHL?

– We are still communicating with Valera. We have been working for a long time, and it is already automatic for us. We just phoned, talked – he said he had x-rayed, and they gave him the all clear.

I said what we would do on the ice. That we absolutely have to ride the first time without pucks. Valera came out, and as soon as he crossed the side threshold, I said to him, “Don’t force yourself at all. Roll, feel your leg.”

Even in the locker room, all he did was lace up his skate, and I said to him, “Wait, look, tilt your ankle to the right, then to the left, listen to yourself.”

You have to do it with feeling. And I always ask Valera to speak to me in this regard.

– Did everything go well?

“There was a little problem. There, the skate presses on a sensitive point. And, as he says, it’s a little annoying.

But now Valera will return to Denver, where she will already be communicating with doctors and coaches. Work will continue there.

– How did you prepare Nichushkin for last season, which ended with the Stanley Cup and an eight-year contract for $49 million? Was there anything special? The guy had the best hockey year of his life!

“In any case, we change something every year. And we always try to work on the weaknesses. That summer, yes, we changed jobs a bit. We added more technical skills, worked a lot with throws. I hope that this period of time that we spent together – about six weeks, influenced in some way, will become a small contribution to a larger chain of events.

“In every lane they wanted to play a trick on Nichushkin”

– Nichushkin is said to be a horse. What is its uniqueness?

– First, it is his anthropometric and physical data. The man is really global (194 cm / 95 kg). Secondly, a crazy feature is superimposed on these dimensions. He has a lot of health both externally and internally. Nichushkin is straight – a machine.

Are you in contact with him during the season?

– During the championship, I can only write to him. Congratulate yourself for a goal or for reaching the playoffs. Simple things: “How are you? Everything is fine?

But at the beginning, in October-November, I always get in touch and ask: “Valera, how are you? How are you?”

It’s not just with him, but with many players. You need to understand if there are any dips or holes. Or on the contrary everything is fine. You always analyze your work that you put into the hockey players. So there must be feedback.

We also spoke to him. Valera said he felt fine. And when he won the Stanley Cup, he recorded a rather moving voice message for me from the locker room. And in the background there were already cries, the champagne was flowing freely.

It was space! It’s personal, ours. And it is very pleasant when you are thus thanked for the joint work. Imagine, a man won the Stanley Cup 10 minutes ago. At that time, I felt like I was in Denver. I remember, and I have goosebumps.

– You train athletes under the slogan: “Hockey sees everything. Does this fit Nichushkin’s career?

– That’s right on point. It’s no secret that Valera had a difficult emotional time. In every hallway, there was someone who wanted to make fun of him.

I have always supported him. We talked about it several times. And we have to give him his due: Valera is a real fighter. Can you imagine how much they poured on him? How they teased him…

He survived it all, had been sick – and lifted the cup over his head. It’s a truly classic story that can be described in motivational textbooks and told to children. How to get through tough times and become a champion. Moreover, the player not only skated in the fourth link all season, but took on the point guard role and scored four goals in the Stanley Cup Finals, while taking on the lion’s share of the hard work.

So hockey really sees everything. How you work, you deserve such respect from your partners. I have read interviews with many foreign hockey players. They all say with one voice: “Val is cool!”