Shocking Agreement Reached Between Nikishin & Hurricanes
The #Canes and defenseman Alexander Nikishin have agreed to a one-year, $3M contract. He set the franchise record for goals by a first-year defenseman last season and was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team.
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) October 25, 2026
Elliotte Friedman dropped the word late Sunday afternoon that the unsigned restricted free agent, who has been asking for a trade out of Raleigh, was close to a contract agreement to stay with the Hurricanes instead.
It's now a done deal. He was looking for an $8M-$9M AAV on a long-term pact, but accepted the $3M one-year deal to get back on the ice. He missed all of training camp and the first 13 games of the regular season, but eventually had to bite the bullet without any paychecks coming in.
Additionally, by signing now, it will allow him to become an RFA again next offseason and he would be offer-sheet eligible at that time, which he was not this time around. He's essentially giving up $5M+ for one year in order to gain significant leverage next summer.
We'd heard earlier this weekend from Pierre LeBrun that the trade offers coming in for him to the Canes were substandard compared to what they were being offered back in the offseason.
For both sides, they now kick the can down the road.
Nikishin posted 11 goals and 33 points in his rookie season last year with a +18 rating. His time on ice diminished in the playoffs, but the 25-year-old Russian got significant experience playing with a Stanley Cup champion.