Hurricanes, Alexander Nikishin Agree To Entry-Level Contract

2:19 p.m.: As reported by PuckPedia, a fair amount of additional bonuses are available to Nikishin in his entry-level contract. As reported by Johnston earlier, the Hurricanes will pay Nikishin a $1.0375MM bonus should he win the Conn Smythe Trophy this postseason. Additionally, Carolina will pay Performance ’A’ bonuses up to $1MM and Performance ’B’ bonuses up to $2MM should Nikishin meet the criteria. As a side note on where he’ll immediately report, the team shared that Nikishin would play for their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, should he fail to acquire a work visa from the Canadian government for their upcoming matchups next week against the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators.

9:17 a.m.: The Hurricanes announced Nikishin’s two-year deal for this season and next as official. He’ll earn a base salary of $832.5K each year, prorated for 2024-25, as well as an annual signing bonus of $92.5K. Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports the contract includes a performance bonus if he wins this year’s Conn Smythe Trophy, similar to what Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Washington’s Ryan Leonard have landed in their deals to increase the performance bonuses they’re eligible for in the second year of the contract.

7:28 a.m.: Top Hurricanes defense prospect Alexander Nikishin will be finishing the season in Carolina. SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League announced this morning they’ve mutually terminated their contract with Nikishin, set to expire May 31, and will allow him to sign an NHL contract with the Hurricanes beginning this season. As expected, SKA will retain his KHL rights if he opts to return to his home country.

Selected by Carolina in the third round of the 2020 draft, Nikishin arrives in the NHL with a resume most first-round picks would love to have – even if he’s only signing his first contract at age 23. The 6’4″, 214-lb lefty established himself as arguably the best defenseman outside of the league a few years ago, dominating the KHL since his breakout season with SKA in 2022-23. He’s scored 45-112–157 in 193 games over the last three years, leading KHL rearguards by a wide margin.

Nikishin has also served as SKA’s captain since the 2023-24 season and claimed the league’s assist crown with 44 in 65 games back in 2022-23, beating out every KHL forward as well. He’s posted a cumulative +71 rating across his six total KHL seasons, including a league-high +32 mark in 2023-24.

This year was somewhat of a down season for Nikishin and SKA, but that’s easy to overlook with his overall resume as one of the KHL’s youngest superstars. He still managed 17 goals, tying his career high, and added 29 assists for 46 points in 61 games while ranking third on the club with a +19 rating. Nikishin also appeared on Russia’s Olympic squad in 2022 as a 20-year-old, although he didn’t register a point in six appearances.

Nikishin is eligible for a two-year ELC, so he’ll join the Canes immediately and be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2026. Where he fits down the stretch with Shayne Gostisbehere, Dmitry Orlov, and Jaccob Slavin ahead of him on the depth chart among lefties in Carolina remains to be seen, but he hopes to see action in at least one of the Canes’ final regular season games before the postseason begins. “If it were possible, I’d be ready to play tomorrow,” Nikishin told Sergey Demidov of Responsible Gambling. “If it works out, I’d be thrilled and would give it everything I’ve got.”

Still, his signing is far more impactful for next season. Nikishin will almost certainly step into Orlov’s role as the latter hits unrestricted free agency, giving the club north of $6.75MM in savings in cap room to spend elsewhere. Orlov has only averaged 18:32 per game for Carolina since signing there in 2023, minutes Nikishin should be able to easily swallow out of the gate without being overtaxed.

Even if he begins as a No. 7 option for the Hurricanes in the postseason, that gives them a level of insurance at the position few other teams have. He was ranked as the organization’s top prospect by NHL.com last offseason, and general manager Eric Tulsky said last August he expected to be able to land Nikishin immediately after his KHL season ended.