The long process is finally over, the Carolina Hurricanes finally were able to get Alexander Nikishin to agree to a contract. The deal will pay the defenseman $3 million for the 2026-27 season and it is just for a single season.
This is considerably less then what Nikishin originally wanted, (reportedly $8 to 9 million annually). It is also much less than the offer that the Canes supposedly, originally put on the table, a long term deal worth $6 million a year. (This is an unconfirmed rumor)
All the rumors mean nothing at this point. For all we know, the Canes could have originally offered $3 million a year and stayed hard on that number. They had no reason to offer more, since the team held all the cards. And that would make a valid reason for the defenseman to hold out, at least for a short time anyway.
But with the success of the team right now, along with the quality of work from Mike Reilly and Juuso Valimaki, the team certainly had no incentive to offer more.
So here we are. Will the Russian play with 100% effort when called upon? His future pay will depend upon it.
Will the coaching staff even give him a chance? Will they play him at all? Will they tell him to rehab and get in game shape in Chicago? At this point he is an asset, at least he is under contract. But if he plays and improves, he could become a more valuable asset.
Not that it mattered in the past with Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The coaching staff didn't try to improve his value with some playing time last season. Keep in mind that the only reason Kotkaniemi is playing now is because of injury and they need him. Otherwise, he would probably still be sitting in the pressbox, behind Nicolas Deslauries on the depth chart. His value as an asset is certainly much higher now than it was when the season started.
People are frustrated with Nikishin but before everyone gives up on him, there are a few things to remember.
He has good size, has a long reach, and breaks up plays with his stick well.
He has the hardest slap shot on the team, which is valuable on the powerplay.
He had the highest number of hits per 60 minutes played on the blueline last season. He came in third of the top six defensemen with blocked shots per 60 minutes played. He was not a pylon out there.
Even though some folk discount the value of the plus/minus stat, he had the best plus/minus on the team, at least showing that he was not the weakest link on the defense.
He was selected to the NHL's all rookie team, so some people around the league thought he was pretty good.
There is no reason to believe that he will not improve the above numbers, given a chance and more minutes. If that happens in Carolina, we will see.
Here is the team's press release:
RALEIGH, NC –Eric Tulsky, General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year contract. The deal will pay Nikishin $3 million for the 2026-27 season.
"We're glad that Alexander is returning to our group," said 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."
About Alexander Nikishin:
The 25-year-old was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team in 2025-26, after ranking second among NHL rookie defensemen in goals (11) and points (33) and tied for second in assists (22).
Led rookie NHL defensemen and ranked second among all rookie skaters in plus/minus (+18) during the 2025-26 season.
Appeared in 17 playoff games for the Hurricanes in 2026, earning one assist and helping Carolina capture the Stanley Cup.
Spent six season the KHL with Spartak Moskva and SKA St. Petersburg prior to joining the Hurricanes, totaling 177 points (54g, 123a) and 166 penalty minutes in 288 regular-season games.
Established a record for single-season scoring by a Russian-born KHL defenseman in 2022-23, leading all KHL defensemen with 55 points (11g, 44a) in 65 games, and then broke his own record the following season, again leading all KHL defensemen with 56 points (17g, 39a) in 67 contests.
Was the youngest player representing Russia at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, capturing a silver medal.
Selected by the Hurricanes in the third round, 69thoverall, at the 2020 NHL Draft.
