Open arms lead to broken hearts. The Avs held their media day Wednesday and if their power play is as on point as their messaging, the city should start planning a downtown parade in June. Val Nichushkin’s availability continues to hold this proud franchise hostage. When coach Jared Bednar and teammates addressed Nichushkin’s suspension in Stage 3 of the player assistance program, I wanted to ask them to blink twice to make sure they weren’t reading off a teleprompter. “We welcome him back with open arms,” Bednar said. “We welcome him back with open arms,” defenseman Devon Toews said. “We will welcome him back with the best of our abilities,” star Cale Makar said. So you are saying he’s welcome back? The Avs know they are a better team with Nichushkin. And if given truth serum, they would admit they cannot win the Stanley Cup, the only measuring stick for this franchise, without him. He has been described by Toews as a “one of one” player. The only one like him is Gabe Landeskog, and there is no timeline for his return. So, the Avs are stuck. They had Two of One. Now they have None of One. If the Avs knew that Landeskog would play in October and throw out 10 goals in 20 games, it would be much easier to move on from Nichushkin if he returns in mid-November — or at least strongly consider it. The problem is that when the captain comes back, it is unclear who he will be. Is he a star who needs a few squirts of WD-40 to knock off the rust, or will he devolve into a third-line grinder? There is no question about Nichushkin’s ability. He is a top player in the league when he is eligible to participate. If he were not, those open arms would be locked across every person in the organization’s chest. That’s the nature of professional sports. The better you are the more chances you get. Let’s get the obvious part out of the way. We all value the person over the player. We want Nichuskin to be, as Toews said, “happy, healthy and strong.” But do you really want him on your team? I would not. The betrayal has been too stark, too devastating. Nichushkin torpedoed back-to-back postseasons. It wasn’t like the Avs lost him for a home-and-home against Columbus in January. He missed the final five games of the Seattle series after the team doctor found an intoxicated woman in his hotel room. Nichushkin said it was a mutual decision between him and the organization for him to leave the team. It was the league’s decision to remove him an hour before the puck dropped in Game 4 against the Dallas Stars last May, admitting him into the assistance program. The Stars smoked the Avs. And players were heated. If a poll was taken after they were eliminated, my guess is they would have voted to close the door on him rejoining the organization. “I am sure Val is going to have some things he wants to say to the group,” Bednar explained. “It’s what a team is. It is a family and you have to roll with the punches sometimes. There’s also got to be some forgiveness there.” With winning a title the motivation, the Avs see no other option. They are strangled by the salary cap, their captain remains in limbo, and they are reloading, not rebooting. They could attempt to trade Nichushkin, but that market will be limited because few teams will want to take on a five-year contract for a player who is one mistake away from a potential lifetime ban. But the Avs do have a choice. They don’t have to play him. They don’t have to trust him. Related Articles Sports Columnists | Renck vs. Keeler: Staring at winless September, what is biggest concern with Broncos? Sports Columnists | Renck: Only thing worse than Broncos offense? Coach Sean Payton’s decisions. Sports Columnists | Renck: Sean Payton sent Russell Wilson packing. Now it’s time for Broncos coach to prove he’s better without him. Sports Columnists | Renck & File: Calls for Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa to retire are premature. Decision is his, not ours Sports Columnists | Renck: Starting Bo Nix was right decision. But soon enough, Broncos’ Sean Payton will have to defend it. Talking about it is uncomfortable. The situation is uncomfortable. After how he let his teammates down, it sure feels like it would be more admirable to lose without Nichushkin than win with him. Why is this even a discussion? When Val is on the ice everything is right. Nichushkin shows up, rolls up his sleeves and goes to work in front of the net. Few things garner more respect. The Avs talk in certainties about Nichushkin, about his game. And yet Nichushkin keeps them guessing. Can he avoid another misstep? Bednar insists Nichushkin cares about the team despite being removed and banned multiple times. This relationship comes across like a troubled marriage. The great times are breathtaking. Then your partner cheats on Valentine’s Day twice. You go to counseling because you want it to work. But, now it seems like they are just staying together for kids. Or more specifically, the Cup. The Avs, all together now, are ready to welcome Nichushkin back with open arms. I am too, except it would be for the 10-year reunion of the 2022 championship team not this season. Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.