DENVER — Suspended Colorado forward Valeri Nichushkin has been added to the Avalanche’s active roster and will make his season debut Friday night against the Washington Capitals.

Nichushkin recently returned to the team after being placed in Phase 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program six months ago. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said after morning ski practice on Friday that Nichushkin “is in good shape and we’re excited to have him back.”

Nichushkin’s suspension was announced in the middle of Colorado’s second-round playoff loss to Dallas. This was the second consecutive postseason absence for the 29-year-old Russian right winger due to conditions off the ice. He also abruptly left the team during the first-round playoff series against Seattle in 2023 for reasons described as personal.

In May, Nichushkin suspended for at least six months without paying. Designating the league’s player assistance program as Tier 3 means he violated the terms of the program, which provides assistance for everything from mental health needs to substance abuse.

The Avalanche are 9-8-0 despite missing Nichushkin and being affected early by injuries.

“He is our friend. He’s a great guy to be around,” forward Nathan MacKinnon said. “He’s a great teammate and definitely a great player. “I’m really happy he’s back and it’s definitely a big boost for us.”

Nichushkin is under contract through the 2029-30 season after signing an eight-year, $49 million contract with the team in 2022. He scored a career-best 28 goals in 54 regular season games last year.

“I see him here every day, he’s in good shape right now,” linebacker Cale Makar said. “He has been doing this job for the last six months. It’s great to see where you are now. He seems like a happy man. So that’s good.”

MacKinnon echoed this sentiment.

It looks great. He is healthy. He’s happy,” MacKinnon said. “He’s in a great mood and looks like he’s in a great place. “I’m sure he’s really excited to do what he loves again.”

The stricken Avalanche moves closer to full health with Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Miles Wood (upper body) returning Friday against the Capitals. The Avalanche are still missing Ross Colton (foot fracture) and captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee), while goaltender Alexandar Georgiev is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Landeskog, who turns 32 on Nov. 23, has been out with a knee injury since helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022. He underwent cartilage transplant surgery on his knee on May 10, 2023, with the aim of returning.

There is no timetable yet for when Landeskog will play. But on Friday, Landeskog was gliding across the ice at practice, practicing puck passing.

“Usually when you’re there you start wondering what it would be like to get it back,” Bednar said. “We’re not quite there yet, but I think whenever he gets on the ice with our guys and is on the court more, it helps.”