Hurricanes Sign Alexander Nikishin to a 1-Year Extension

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Hurricanes Sign Alexander Nikishin to a 1-Year Extension

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Oct 25, 2026 5:16 PM ET

First broken NHL insider Elliotte Friedman , the Carolina Hurricanes confirmed that they have signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year contract extension. Friedman wrote, “Hearing there is movement on a contract between Carolina and unsigned defenceman Alexander Nikishin.” The Hurricanes followed it up with, “Welcome back, Niki. We’ve signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year contract.”

$3M https://t.co/FnDPi40zxs
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 25, 2026

“We’re glad that Alexander is returning to our group,” said general manager Eric Tulsky. “This has been a long process, but we look forward to him re-entering our locker room ready to contribute with the Hurricanes, as he did during a Stanley Cup championship season last year.”

Pierre LeBrun reports, “Nikishin had asked for a trade, but the Hurricanes had been trying to convince him to sign a one-year deal, and both sides could revisit things next off-season if he still wanted out. He will also be eligible for an offer sheet next summer. He wasn’t currently.”

Nikishin, 25, was a 2020 third-round pick of Carolina who outperformed that slot, scoring 46 to 56 points per KHL season from 2022-23 through 2024-25. He then joined Carolina’s playoff run, first as a tryout player, then signed, burning his entry-level year while averaging about 16 minutes over four playoff games.

More to come…

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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