I know that Valeri Nichushkin has been a controversial NHLer this season, and many would argue that he's given advanced stats a bad name. So, I scouted his performance in Game 2 against DAL. This thread goes into the good parts of his game that we can see. Here's what I found:

First, a confession: I don't think Nichushkin had a good game 2, and the stats reflect that. His puck-handling wasn't good at all, and he could not transition into the o-zone to save his life. But, he did show glimpses of what made him so dominant in the reg. szn.

I'll be mainly focusing on things he does that make him such a good defensive winger.

Whether you're skepitcal that some models overrate Nichushkin, or if you believe in the stats and haven't watched him much, I encourage you to read this thread.

If you've ever watched Nichushkin, you'll notice he's got a strange skillset. An Avs fan once described him as a bowling ball on skates, and I think that's very accurate. He's fast, but not the most fluid skater by any means. He's also not a gifted stickhandler.

He's pretty big, and the type of player I'd call selectively physical. He doesn't throw his weight around every shift, but depending on the situation, he can use his body very effectively, especially along the boards (the SN broadcast praised him for his physical play in rd. 2)

There are a few specific techniques I noticed him use that make him such an effective player (and presumably, those same things appeal to xG models), especially on the defensive side. I'll get into those now. Also, apologies in advance for rookie camerawork, he's #13 in white.

1) He is exceptional at taking away the middle of the ice

In this clip, he sticks to Andrej Sekera like glue as Sekera looks for a breakout pass. This forces him to throw a panic pass up the boards. Bellemare intercepts it and springs Nichushkin for a grade-A chance.

The best chances always come from the middle of the ice, and in this play, Nichushkin made sure Sekera didn't even get the chance to use it when exiting his own zone. Making opponents uncomfortable is somehing Nichushkin trades on, and he used it effectively here.

I also think this could be a benefit of the system he plays in. I noticed a lot of Avs forwards doing the same thing whenever Dallas was on a line change. Namely, Gabriel Landeskog was excellent at it, and he had a dominant game.

2) He plays a big part in keeping the puck in the offensive zone

Once Nichushkin sees that he doesn't have a clear path to the net here, he just goes right to the corner. What ensues is...not a favourable situation for Dallas. See for yourself.

When people say the best defense is good offense, this is what they mean. The other team can't get any chances if you keep the puck in the corner for 20 seconds. This is half a shift's worth of o-zone time, and it was a great one for the Avs (namely MacK) but Nichushkin starts it

As well, this is a golden example of skill not always equalling impact. Nichushkin loses his footing 10 seconds into the video, yet what he started was a sequence of events that allowed his team to dictate the remainder of the shift.

3) He is capable of being a great forechecker

This is a great effort from him and J.T. Compher. The puck sits behind Dallas's net, and both of them move in to sandwich Sekera, forcing him to shoot it the length of the ice. The Avs come back the other way for another good chance.

Nichushkin, at his peak, is just so good without the puck. Sekera was the one Stars player he thoroughly outmatched in this one imo. He and Compher's efforts in the o-zone eventually lead to an opportunity for Namestikov. Again, not all good defense comes from the defensive zone.

Here's another video of him employing technique number 1, this time on Esa Lindell.

Nichushkin is a unicorn in just about every way. He's got an unorthodox skillset, and in terms of defense, he doesn't have Bergeron's skill, and he doesn't deploy the Zach Aston-Reese strategy of not letting the other team have the puck at all, which xG models love.

However, through forcing the other teams to the outside whenever they try to start a breakout, working the cycle as much as possible on a team that is more than capable of doing so, and a unique way of pursuing the puck, Nichushkin has become a great defensive player.

Ultimately, I think he's benefitted greatly from the Avs' forechecking system, but deserves a ton of individual credit at the same time. Colorado is a perfect fit for Val Nichushkin. What a signing by Joe Sakic and co.

The skills that make him a good defensive player aren't revolutionary. He's far from the first to employ the tactics that he's using, but with the data we have access to now, we can see just how important these skills are. He's redefining what it means to be a star player.

I wish I had more videos for you, but again, he didn't have a good game outside of the clips you saw. Either way, that was a glimpse into what made him so dominant during the regular season, and why I'm excited to see what else his redefined career brings.

Thanks for reading!