The sign-and-trade carousel is spinning again this NHL offseason. Darren Raddysh went from Tampa to Toronto. Alex Tuch got a new deal and landed in Washington after leaving Buffalo. Now the Carolina Hurricanes might open the same door for their only pending restricted free agent on defense.
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, there’s a strong market for Alexander Nikishin. He posted on X that upwards of six teams are in the mix for the 24-year-old blueliner. Dreger also noted that Nikishin’s contract ask is playing a major role in the action.
Carolina is in a weird spot. They’re positioned to make another serious Cup run in 2026-27. Nearly everyone from their 2026 playoff roster is coming back. Only Frederik Andersen and Mike Reilly are unrestricted free agents. Nikishin is the lone RFA. That roster continuity is great for the on-ice product. It’s a headache for the cap sheet.
The Russian defenseman with upside
Nikishin was drafted 69th overall by Carolina in 2020. He stayed in the KHL with SKA Saint Petersburg through the 2024-25 season before signing his entry-level deal. He played four playoff games for the Canes in 2025. This season he dressed for 81 regular season games, scoring 11 goals and adding 22 assists. He also appeared in 17 postseason games with one helper, missing two of those games because of a concussion.
He’s not a flashy offensive star. But he’s a solid two-way defenseman who skates well and plays hard. Teams looking for a steady blue-line piece in their mid-twenties are calling.
The financial math gets tight
The Hurricanes have about $10 million in cap space this offseason. That sounds decent until you start doing the math. Nikishin is projected to land somewhere between $3.7 million and $6.4 million in average annual value, depending on the term of the deal. That’s a big chunk of their remaining room for one player.
A sign-and-trade makes sense for both sides. Carolina gets something back instead of losing him for nothing. A contender gets a young defenseman on a fresh deal without having to navigate the RFA negotiation from scratch. It’s a move that’s becoming more common around the league.
The NHL Draft is Friday. Free agency opens next week. Something could shake loose on Nikishin pretty quickly. Keep an eye on which teams are willing to meet his price and give Carolina the assets they need to keep their Cup window open.
Leave a Comment