The Carolina Hurricanes are anticipating that their top prospect, Alexander Nikishin, will join the team for the 2024-25 season. Nikishin, regarded as one of the best defensemen not currently in the NHL, still has a year left on his KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg. However, the Hurricanes expect to sign him and have him in their lineup once his contract ends, which could be late in the season.
According to General Manager Eric Tulsky, who spoke with NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, the plan is to sign Nikishin as soon as his Russian deal concludes and immediately integrate him into the team. The KHL playoffs typically extend through April, and with SKA being a strong team, Nikishin may not be available for Carolina until the end of April or early May, depending on when he is released from his contract. For him to make his debut, the Hurricanes will need to advance in their own playoffs.
Nikishin, drafted 69th overall in 2020, has significantly exceeded expectations. After becoming a full-time KHL player with Spartak, he moved to SKA in 2022, where his performance skyrocketed. In his first season with SKA, he tallied 55 points in 65 regular-season games, leading all KHL defensemen in scoring while playing nearly 23 minutes per game. Last season, he continued his impressive play with 17 goals and 39 assists in 67 games, again topping the points chart for defensemen and averaging over 24 minutes per night. While the Hurricanes are excited about his offensive abilities, they also see him as a well-rounded addition to their team.
As Nikishin turns 23 in October, his entry-level contract will need to be a two-year agreement, with the first year potentially being used up if he joins the Hurricanes this season. This could set him up for a lucrative second contract in the 2026 offseason.
The Hurricanes have seen some changes on defense this summer, with Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce, and Tony DeAngelo all leaving in free agency. Their replacements, including Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere, aren’t as high-profile, and one spot remains unfilled. It seems likely that the Hurricanes are planning for Nikishin to step into that role, providing a boost to their defense for the playoffs, assuming they are still in contention when he becomes available.
