Best 2026-27 Future Bets for the Carolina Hurricanes
Will the Hurricanes experience a Stanley Cup hangover, or will they take a page from their rivals in Florida and win back-to-back championships?
Video Transcript
I think he gets traded, Ryan.
And it feels like, you know, I got to see Nikushin when the Habs played the Canes.
And it did feel like it was kind of like an oil and water kind of scenario where, you know, the kind of style of defenseman he is just doesn't mesh well with how the rest of Carolina likes to play.
Especially now that you've got, you know, Gossas Bear is playing, you know, power play minutes that Nikushin probably should get.
So, you know, you're using Gossas Bear basically as a power play specialist.
So where does that leave Nikushin?
Like, you know, he obviously is going to grow into, you know, a better defenseman.
But for what I'm seeing and how Bryndemore likes to coach, it just doesn't make a lot of sense with the kind of player he has.
So I think Carolina is better off while his value is still high.
Move him out.
Try to get a more of a two-way defenseman, a guy that can do some offensive stuff that Nikushin probably could do, but then also be the defender that, you know, Bryndemore is going to be able to trust out there in five on five.
Drew, what do you think?
I mean, Carolina has had a very quiet offseason.
They're basically just running back the same squad that won the Cup, which, hey, why wouldn't you?
It was a great squad.
But where do you see Nikushin fitting in or do you see him going elsewhere?
Yeah, I actually agree with literally every single thing Michael said.
I think that we're actually on the same page today.
No, I mean, I think that like he hit the nail on the head.
Like, yes, he struggled a little bit in the playoffs, but he had a really good year.
He's got a lot of things that show promise that he can be an elite defenseman.
I don't think if you're not going to use him on the power play and stuff like that, you can't pay him like an elite defenseman.
And we all know the ruble's down these days.
So I doubt he's willing to take any type of Carolina pay cut.
I don't see that happening based on him or his agent.
So I think he gets moved when that happens.
I don't know.
I also think for Carolina, like based on their lineup, like it's more it's a better investment for them to kind of bet on a guy who's like a mid mid tier two level defenseman to kind of fill that spot if you're not going to use him in all those areas.
