Update on Alexander Nikishin

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin has a few potential teams looking to acquire his services.

According to Elliotte Friedman via the 32 Thoughts podcast, the New York Rangers almost sealed Nikishin in blue with a trade perfectly in place; however, Friedman added that the contract negotiations didn’t line up between New York and the defenseman. Had this trade gone through, the Rangers would’ve added a major blue liner that fits within their current ‘retool’ window, as their offseason moves have attempted to identify themselves back into a playoff-contending team.

Both sides were looking at an AAV value of around $9MM for the young defenseman before the Zeev Buium contract was signed. Friedman said Nikishin was looking for around that number. New York wasn’t far from that AAV that Nikishin wanted, but it doesn’t appear that they were looking to bring him in for that. The Rangers currently have under $1MM in 2026-27 cap space with the NHL season around the corner, paying eight defensemen around $37MM. So it’s fair to wonder which players would’ve been headed Carolina’s way in return for this inter-division trade, but top-prospect Alberts Smits emerging on his entry-level deal to play for the big club, possibly played a factor here in the Rangers stepping up to bat. The St. Louis Blues have been very interested in Nikishin, and the Predators also have had some interest, per Friedman.

In Vancouver, Buium signed the full eight years at a $9.38MM AAV. Comparatively, Nikishin was willing to reach that threshold, but is looking at a shorter term of a contract, which may be what is holding up from an organization’s perspective, with Nikishin rumored to want a five-year deal and now potentially, more money.

Nikishin, who scored 11 goals and 33 points in his rookie NHL season last year, playing slightly above 18 minutes a night, recently decided to change agent representation amid his pending trade request. He switched from Quartexx Hockey and hired Paul Theofanous per PuckPedia. Theofanous represents Russian stars like Kirill Kaprizov, Artemi Panarin, and Sergei Bobrovsky, all of whom make a lot of dough. He will now take over negotiating for Nikishin, who remains an unsigned, restricted free agent with just days before the start of the regular season. Despite conflicts with Carolina, a return to the KHL is reportedly not an option for the defenseman.

Rightfully so, Carolina should be getting back as much as they can here. The ask is a relatively large return for the services and upside that their 24-year-old defenseman demonstrated last season en route to winning a Stanley Cup. Friedman says that the Hurricanes are looking for two first-round picks, whether that be in actual draft capital or equivalent to players taken within the first 32 of their respective drafts as comparable talent.

The Hurricanes also remain resilient on Connor Hellebuyck, the four-time all-star, three-time Vezina trophy winner as the league’s best goaltender, and 2024-25 league MVP makes $8.5MM per season and will earn $59.5MM by the time he’s 38 years old in 2031. Friedman previously said that if it were up to Winnipeg, they’d have dealt for Nikishin already. There is an issue regarding whether he’d sign after being dealt to the Jets, That being said, maybe a three-way deal could be conducted if the Jets and Hurricanes can find a third party and thus, a team that Nikishin would consider home for however long he’d sign for.

Regardless, this will take place on the Hurricanes’ schedule, considering Nikishin doesn’t have any offer sheet eligiblity, arbitration eligibility, his rights are under Carolina’s as a 10.2c RFA, because he hasn’t reached the NHL experience thresholds required to earn the rights in his favor. The Hurricanes have around $8.4MM in cap space, and Nikishin is the only player unsigned within their roster. Among left-shot defenders, the defending champs have Jaccob Slavin, K’Andre Miller, and Shayne Gostisbehere.