The St. Louis Blues have kicked the tires on Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, but getting a deal done looks like a whole different matter.
Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reported in a recent mailbag that the Blues have shown interest in Nikishin, who is still sitting without a contract nearly a month into free agency and remains one of 10 RFAs heading into the 2026-27 season. Carolina, meanwhile, has not committed to a clear path yet. Before the 2026 NHL Draft, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the Hurricanes were including Nikishin in trade discussions, weighing a long-term extension against what they could get back if they moved him.
That uncertainty is where the real problem starts. If St.
Louis is in the mix, the price is clearly not lining up with Carolina’s ask. The Hurricanes, as the defending Stanley Cup champions, are believed to be seeking another top-six forward, but it’s not obvious which Blues player fits that bill.
Not long ago, Robert Thomas would have been the cleanest answer. Carolina had interest in him leading up to last season’s trade deadline, but St.
Louis wanted a massive return and nothing came together. That door is closed now, though, with new general manager Alexander Steen no longer interested in putting Thomas in trade talks.
Beyond Thomas, the Blues don’t have an easy match. Pavel Buchnevich is the other name that makes some sense, but his production has dipped over the last four seasons, and his $8MM cap hit makes him a tough fit for Carolina unless St.
Louis absorbs a significant portion of it. Even then, the Hurricanes would likely push for more.
The interest still makes sense from St. Louis’ side.
Nikishin, 24, just finished his rookie season with 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games and a +18 rating. He also landed on the 2025-26 All-Rookie Team with New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer and finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting.
For the Blues, the fit is obvious on paper. Nikishin is a left-shot defenseman who would slot naturally behind Philip Broberg and give St.
Louis another established option on the blue line. That could also buy prospect Theo Lindstein more time to develop while easing him into a larger role.
Even so, the path to a deal is murky. Steen has already shown he’s willing to make bold moves, trading Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals earlier this summer, but he also brought in younger forwards Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That leaves the Blues in an awkward spot: they may want a player like Nikishin, but it’s not clear how aggressive they want to be.
St. Louis could still consider moving Jordan Binnington or Logan Mailloux if the right defenseman becomes available. But if the Blues truly believe they can contend this season, giving up that kind of roster value for one player would be a steep price to pay.
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