2 Significant Developments For Nikishin Indicates Trade Coming Soon

Two significant developments on the Alexander Nikishin front are indicators that a trade or signing of some kind will be coming sooner rather than later for the Carolina Hurricanes' unsigned RFA defenseman.

To begin the day on Friday, Elliotte Friedman reported on the 32 Thoughts podcast that the second-year player has been granted permission to talk with other teams. 

Nikishin's an interesting one. Word came to me late on Thursday night, that he has permission to talk to some teams. I don't know who...

I think he was offered at one point in time to the Winnipeg Jets for Connor Hellebuyck but Nikishin had kind of indicated that it was unlikely he was going to sign in Winnipeg or the Jets felt that he wasn't going to sign there.

Friedman wondered if the Hurricanes were trying to work on a three-team trade of some sort that would land them Hellebuyck, pending Nikishin's camp agreeing to go to another location. 

Later, Friedman did drop another team name that the big Russian blueliner would be interested in going to. 

Appearing on the DMase, Vingan & Daunic podcast, Friedman said, ''I do think Nashville is a place he would sign. I do think that Nashville poked around on that. The (Luke) Evangelista trade return, the first and the second (round picks). Nikishin was almost traded to the (NY) Rangers this year, and the package was something like that. Like it was maybe two firsts or maybe it was two firsts and a second... I had a couple of people tell me, "Don't be surprised if Nashville tries to throw that (trade package in a bid to get) Nikishin."

Finally, the capper on all this on Friday, and likely to push a move forward, is that PuckPedia revealed Nikishin has now switched agents. Now being represented by Paul Theofanous.
Oftentimes, an agent switch greases the wheels for player moves.