Report: Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin Still Wants Out; 5 Teams Linked
It comes a week after Nikishin ended a months-long standoff with Carolina by signing a one-year, $3 million contract.
What Has Changed
Nikishin asked for a trade soon after the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, and he accepted a one-year deal even though he still wants to go somewhere he can play bigger minutes.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported the Hurricanes had been trying to convince him to sign a one-year contract so both sides could revisit things in the offseason if he still wanted out, which is what ultimately ended up happening.
Nikishin signed it on October 25 after missing training camp and the start of the regular season, and the one-year term means he is on the books at a $3 million cap hit for this season only.
Welcome back, Niki 👊 We've signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year contract. Details » https://t.co/2IAuIQ4rzM https://t.co/ki7Ucz9ufc
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 25, 2026
During the standoff, his camp was reportedly seeking around $8 million a year, a number that was far above where the sides eventually landed.
The Fit And The Market
Nikishin (25) is a third-round pick in 2020 who became one of the top defensemen in the KHL before moving to North America in 2025, and he averaged 18:11 a night as a rookie while playing on both special teams.
He played mostly on Carolina’s third pair last season, which is the role he was reportedly frustrated with and the reason a team that can offer him a top-four spot would have the most to offer him.
Alexander Nikishin has reportedly turned down an 8-year contract offer from the Hurricanes worth $5.5M-$6M AAV 👀 Nikishin is believed to be seeking around $9M AAV on a five-year deal and reportedly has interest in Los Angeles. (via @FriedgeHNIC) https://t.co/PE9wwzMv7f
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) September 30, 2026
Nashville’s interest has been reported before, and The Fourth Period’s list adds St. Louis, the Islanders, Seattle, and the Rangers, giving the Hurricanes five clubs that could use a young left-shot defender.
Carolina’s return on a Nikishin trade would depend on what it wants, but the one-year deal gives the Hurricanes the ability to trade him this season or revisit things in the summer.
