Alexander Nikishin is one of the top defensemen not currently in the NHL.
Carolina Hurricanes are eagerly waiting for him to finish his KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg. GM Eric Tulsky told NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti that they plan to sign him as soon as he’s free and put him in their lineup immediately.
Nikishin, who was picked 69th in 2020, has been amazing since then. He started playing full-time in the KHL with Spartak and then moved to SKA in 2022 where he really shined . In his first season with SKA, he scored 55 points in 65 games and played nearly 23 minutes per game. Last season, he continued to impress with 17 goals and 39 assists in 67 games, leading all defensemen while logging over 24 minutes a night.
Nikishin’s Impact on Carolina:
Fans might think this is great news for Carolina’s future! With Nikishin turning 23 this October, his entry-level deal will be a two-year contract. If he signs and plays this season, it will burn one year of that deal right away. This sets him up for what many believe will be an expensive second contract by the summer of 2026.
This summer saw some changes on Carolina’s defensive line: Brady Skjei went to Nashville, Brett Pesce joined New Jersey, and Tony DeAngelo remains unsigned. Their replacements—Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere—aren’t as high-profile on paper. It looks like they’re hoping Nikishin can fill that gap just in time for the playoffs if they make it far enough.
What do you think about these changes?
