 Nycholat was used primarily as a depth defenceman for the Canucks in 2008–09, playing in only 14 games before being placed on waivers.Picked up by his hometown team, the Calgary Flames on March 3, 2009, he was traded the next day to the Colorado Avalanche.Nycholat played in 5 games with the Avalanche before his season ended after suffering a concussion in a 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on March 22, 2009.