Hurricanes sign Nikishin to 1-year, $3M deal to end restricted free agent's contract stalemate
Carolina Hurricanes' Alexander Nikishin (21) protects the puck from Vegas Golden Knights' Nic Dowd (26) during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., June 11, 2026. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year, $3 million contract to end a contract stalemate with a restricted free agent yet to play this season.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions announced the deal Sunday, coming after Nikishin's name had been mentioned as a potential trade candidate as he sat out to start the year.
“We’re glad that Alexander is returning to our group,” Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. “This has been a long process, but we look forward to him re-entering our locker room ready to contribute with the Hurricanes, as he did during a Stanley Cup championship season last year.”
The 25-year-old Nikishin was a third-round pick in the 2020 draft and had been considered a prized prospect. He made his NHL debut when he was pressed into duty due to injuries in the 2025 playoffs, which ended with a loss to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
Nikishin played 81 regular-season games last year and posted 11 goals, 22 assists and a plus-18 rating. He worked as a third-pairing defenseman while appearing in 17 of 19 postseason games as the Hurricanes won their second Cup, the other coming in 2006.
