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What Hurricanes Newest Signing Means for RFA Alexander Nikishin
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- What Hurricanes Newest Signing Means for RFA Alexander Nikishin
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Tuesday afternoon, the Carolina Hurricanes announced the signing of Pierre-Olivier Joseph – a 27-year-old left-handed defenseman with 225 NHL games under his belt.
Additionally, Joseph has spent 138 games in the AHL, playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and also helped Team Canada to a gold medal in the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
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Does Joseph's Signing Mean Anything Regarding the Alexander Nikishin Dilemma
Truthfully, this signing I believe means less for Alexander Nikishin, and more so for Mike Reilly – a fellow lefty d-man.
Last season, the Hurricanes added Reilly as their veteran seventh defenseman. As Reilly, a UFA, remains without a contract, it is most likely that Joseph is filling that role that he left behind.
However, don't let Joseph's left-handedness fool you – if Nikishin remains without a contract when the season begins, he could still cover that role. Shayne Gostisbehere – who plays opposite of Nikishin on the third-pair – is proficient playing on his off-hand, just as Nikishin has done all this time.
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With the recent contracts dealt to defensemen leaguewide, such as Cale Makar 's record-setting $20.4M AAV, or most comparably, Zeev Buium 's $9.38M AAV deal, the market has changed for blueliners – and as such, the Hurricanes may remain in a stalemate with Nikishin for a while longer.
Also Read: What Does Cale Makar's New Contract Mean For Hurricanes RFA Alexander Nikishin?
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