Carolina Hurricanes End Stalemate With Unsigned RFA Alexander Nikishin
· Yahoo Sports
Not many observers saw this one coming. A one-year… $3 million deal for Alexander Nikishin with the Carolina Hurricanes?
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Welcome back, Niki 👊
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 25, 2026
We've signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year contract.
Details » https://t.co/2IAuIQ4rzMpic.twitter.com/ki7Ucz9ufc
It was an offseason of wanting out of Carolina and asking for a contract extension in the $8 – $9 million AAV range. The Hurricanes held out for a pricey return in any trade offer for the big Russian defender, however. Between their asking price and Nikishin’s ask on a new deal, a stalemate kept the unsigned D-man off the ice throughout training camp and through the first 13 games of the regular season.
Nikishin, with no leverage, obviously realized that he needed to do something to get back onto the ice.
Nikishin wanted a big payday this season, but accepts lesser deal to get back on the ice
The 25-year-old set the franchise record for goals by a rookie defenseman last season with 11 and was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. He finished with 33 points and a plus/minus rating of +18.
After watching other young, less proven players around hockey raking in massive extensions this past offseason, Nikishin rightfully wanted his due. In particular, the $9.38 million AAV extension for eight years for Zeev Buium in Vancouver seemed to set the bar for the Canes’ blueliner, who had a more accomplished year as a rookie than the Canucks’ Buium.
But with Carolina not able to obtain the high price in a trade offer that they were looking for, and other teams balking at, or not able to reach, Nikishin’s high asking price on an extension, no trades were forthcoming.
For Nikishin, as an RFA after just one year in the NHL, he wasn’t arbitration-eligible. He was also not eligible to receive an offer sheet from another team. And he wasn’t getting paid, just sitting at home, waiting this out. But by signing this one-year deal, even at a vastly lower price point than he was hoping for, he now gets himself back on the ice as a paid employee of the Hurricanes and sets himself up for a big payday next offseason. He WILL be able to receive offer sheets, and he WILL be arbitration-eligible come next July 1.
It’s seemingly an acceptable deal for both sides.
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