Oct 9, 2026: According to Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, Nikishin is losing leverage on his trade request. Situationally, the NHL season being underway has seen the ball thrown in his court.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin is losing leverage in his ongoing trade request as the NHL season gets underway, according to Elliotte Friedman. The unsigned 25-year-old restricted free agent remains ineligible for offer sheets or arbitration under 10.2.c rules, leaving Carolina under no immediate urgency to finalize a deal.
A previous trade framework with the New York Rangers reportedly fell through over contract negotiations, while the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators have also shown interest. Nikishin is seeking an AAV around $9 million on a shorter-term deal, while Carolina's asking price remains two first-round draft picks or equivalent talent.
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