NY Rangers’ Deal For Nikishin Fell Through For One Reason

The Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes are getting set to kick off the season this week, without one of their top-six defenders from last year. Restricted free agent Alexander Nikishin, coming off his rookie year in the NHL, is playing hardball and wants a trade, with a huge new contract attached. 

It appears that the Canes did get a deal agreed upon with the New York Rangers, but Nikishin's camp put the kibosh on it.

Per @FriedgeHNIC, the Canes and Rangers had the framework of a Nikishin trade agreed upon earlier this offseason.

However, Nikishin and the Rangers couldn't agree a contract 👀 pic.twitter.com/ztskV8wh12

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 28, 2026

Nikishin was almost traded to the Rangers. 

They had a deal between the Hurricanes and the Rangers and they couldn't come to a contract agreement... Before the Zeev Buium contract came in (for Vancouver, at $9.38M AAV) , Nikishin was looking for around $9M a year. And I just don't think the Rangers got there. I don't think they were far away, but I don't think they got there.

The insider added that Nikishin's ask, which was five years at $9M AAV, is likely higher now, on a long-term deal, after the Buium number came in. 

Friedman notes that the Hurricanes are looking for two first-round picks, or something in that range ("comparable talent"), in a Nikishin sign-and-trade. And they are taking a hard-line stance with the Russian defenseman, who does not have a contract and is not with the team as they get set to start the season this week.

"Carolina just won the Stanley Cup. They're like, 'hey man, we feel no pressure here, no pressure.' I guess there's some disappointment or frustration that the deal with the Rangers fell through... If this happens, it's going to happen on Carolina's schedule. 'Ok, you weren't flexible before, we can afford to wait now.'"