On Friday, a representative for Hurricanes prospect Alexander Nikishin expressed some frustration that his contract had yet to be registered with the NHL despite being agreed to in principle before the playoffs. While it took longer than expected, it is now done as team reporter Walt Ruff relays (Twitter link) that the contract has been made official. As expected, the deal begins this season, making him eligible to play in the playoffs.
GM Eric Tulsky also released the following statement:
“We had agreed with his agents to keep the options open for Alex to potentially play a game in Chicago at some point. But with their season now over, it makes sense to officially register an NHL contract for him, and we are excited for his future with the team.”
It was initially believed that Nikishin, one of the top blueliners outside the NHL in recent seasons, would make an immediate impact in Carolina’s lineup. But when the coaching staff determined he wouldn’t be in their top six to start the postseason, the Hurricanes kept their options open in case they wanted Nikishin to get a game or two in with AHL Chicago on a tryout deal before registering the deal. Chicago fell 5-0 to Rockford on Friday, ending their best-of-three series in a sweep so that option is no longer on the table, meaning there was no reason to delay things further.
The 23-year-old had 17 goals and 29 assists in 61 games with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL this season, a point total that was actually a bit lower than the last couple of years when he had 55 in 2022-23 and 56 in 2023-24. He also logged more than 24 minutes a night while playing in all situations. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour may not want to mess with a group that has gotten out to a two-to-one series lead on New Jersey just yet but now with Nikishin’s deal officially on the books, he has a very intriguing option to turn to at some point this postseason.
Where are all the dorks from the thread yesterday? Any other brilliant analysis?
As a non-commenter from yesterday, I’d hardly recommend you come in high and mighty. Just means Cane’s got the message and stopped being stingy. Spin the media how you like – they moved like lightning once the agent spoke up. If they planned on using him in the AHL they would have done it before they were eliminated… they were stringing him along for sure.
They moved like lightning when the wolves were eliminated. If you think the American agent was playing damage control after the Russian agent outburst to “force hands”, I’d question your understanding of what leverage means.
Dfa1989… Typical Canes fan. Every screw up is somehow just shrewd business… that’s why Guentzel is in Tampa Bay and in a “go for it” season they somehow added a first round pick at the deadline… shrewd.
Enjoy another playoff exit.
Not sure how they were being “stingy”. Players don’t get paid in the playoffs. It was agreed upon and just not signed in case they wanted him to get some meaningful game action in the AHL. The optics were not good and should have been stated up front, given the Canes track record over the past few years though.
Screw up, hilarious. Team signs Nikishin. What is screwed up? Guentzel has nothing to do with it, unless you’re grasping at straws to make a point about this.
The Stanley Cup champs exit the playoffs but you have to get in to win, so yeah we’ll enjoy it during a transition year. If you think this is a “go for it” season, you’re lost.