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Canes reach one-year, $3M deal with Nikishin

The Hurricanes have agreed to a one-year contract with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin, ending a months-long standoff.

By Emily Kaplan · ESPN

Published: Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 10:11 PM

Key Things to Know

The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year, $3 million contract.
The agreement ends a standoff after Nikishin missed training camp and requested a trade over the summer.
Nikishin will remain a restricted free agent and become eligible for an offer sheet next summer.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year, $3 million contract, ending a monthslong contract standoff. The 25-year-old Russian blueliner missed training camp and the opening weeks of the regular season after previously requesting a trade in search of a larger role and a significant raise.

Nikishin played in 81 regular-season games as a rookie and made 17 playoff appearances during Carolina's Stanley Cup championship run last season. He will remain a restricted free agent next summer while becoming offer-sheet eligible, as general manager Eric Tulsky welcomed his return to the roster.

Read the full article on ESPN

Canes reach one-year, $3M deal with Nikishin

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