Alexander Nikishin will not be in Carolina Hurricanes training camp, and the reason is simple: he still doesn’t have a contract.
The Hurricanes said Wednesday that the defenseman is not reporting as the team waits on a deal, and they made clear they weren’t going beyond that. For now, there’s no sign of progress toward either an extension or a trade.
This has been building for most of the offseason, with the Nikishin situation playing out in public. Rumors that he wants out have been out there, and at one point there was speculation Carolina might be close to moving him. That never happened, and the standoff now looks like it has only hardened.
A trade still isn’t off the table, and an extension technically remains possible. But it’s getting tougher to picture this ending any other way. The 24-year-old restricted free agent reportedly asked for a trade right after winning the Stanley Cup with Carolina last season.
Rod Brind’Amour addressed the situation and didn’t try to dress it up. “Love the player, but business is business. No hard feelings; the team has to proceed with or without him.”
From Carolina’s side, the message is just as clear. The Hurricanes are not willing to hand out a big-money deal until Nikishin proves he’s earned it, and they’re prepared to let the situation drag on if needed. That means he can sit, watch, and see other players get their chances in camp.
And with long-term, high-AAV deals already going to other players, Nikishin may end up paying a price for how this has unfolded.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Just Made A Captain Decision That Says Everything
Jordan Staals latest deal keeps one of the Hurricanes defining figures in place after a season that only added to his rsum. Carolina has extended its captain for another year, rewarding a player who has been a steady, physical presence for this team across 16 seasons and who now arrives with a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy in hand after being named postseason MVP.
The move says as much about the Hurricanes view of their room as it does about Staal himself. He is still central to how they want to play, and the contract gives the organization another season of that leadership and reliability while leaving the long view just a little hazier, since Staal will be 39 by the time it runs out. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Suddenly Face A Blue-Line Problem At The Worst Time
Alexander Nikishins arrival in Carolina has taken an unexpected turn just as training camp opens, with the Hurricanes announcing that the restricted free agent defenseman will not take part because his contract remains unresolved. For a team trying to build off its Stanley Cup run, the situation adds another layer of uncertainty to a blue line that had already been under close watch this offseason.
Reports have indicated Nikishin asked for a trade after the run to the Final, and the Hurricanes have been gauging the market while preparing for the possibility that he does not come back. Carolina has also added Mike Reilly and Pierre-Olivier Joseph as depth insurance, a clear sign the club has been bracing for this possibility even as one of its more intriguing defense questions remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Staal Is Back But Hurricanes Still Have One Big Deal Left
Jordan Staal is staying put for another season, and for Carolina that matters beyond just keeping a familiar face in the room. Around the league, teams are moving early on younger players before new collective bargaining agreement rules take effect, with the Ducks, Devils and Capitals all handing out notable extensions of their own. The Hurricanes joined that wave by locking up Staal on a short-term deal, preserving a veteran center who still anchors a team trying to stay in the thick of the East.
The bigger question now is how Carolina handles the next layer of its business, because Staals agreement was only one piece of a busier stretch of contract planning. The deals being signed now are carrying cap hits, bonus structures and other details that will matter once the new rules arrive, and the Hurricanes still have another significant decision ahead as they map out the roster under that changing landscape. [Read more 🡒]