The Carolina Hurricanes and Alexander Nikishin are still working through a messy situation, and for now there’s no public sign that a resolution is close.
Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky addressed the stalemate and made clear the club is keeping the conversation private. “We’re trying to find a resolution. He has largely kept things out of the media, and I want to be respectful and make sure when players talk to me, they know it’s just between us.
“So, if they’re not talking to the media, I’m not going to either. Both sides are trying to find a resolution and figure out how we go forward from here.”
Nikishin, a restricted free agent defenseman, has recently switched agents to Paul Theefanous after reportedly asking for a trade.
On the San Jose side, Will Smith is eligible for an extension, but this one may not move quickly. JD Young of Locked on Sharks pointed to Adam Fantilli and Cutter Gauthier as strong comparables, and said a deal could easily wait until after the season.
“You look at a lot of their analytics; they’re very similar between Will Smith and Cutter Gauthier. So, I think he’s going to, next offseason, land somewhere in that kind of $13 million range, probably five or six years. $13 million would be my guess.
Thoughts on the Matthew Knies - Kirill Marchenko Trade
I think both Smith and the Sharks are comfortable just kind of letting this thing play out a little bit this season. Kind of see how Smith’s game continues to grow.
For Will Smith, you want more of these kind of contract points…and your agent to be like, ‘Well if this guy got paid this much, I think I’m more just as much, not more than that type of player.’ I think this is one of those deals where it gets done in the offseason, but before free agency.”
In Other News...
Hurricanes Home Opener Comes With A Few Fan Reminders
The Carolina Hurricanes are opening their 29th season in North Carolina on Tuesday, and along with the start of an 84-game schedule comes the usual run of game-day reminders for fans heading to the Lenovo Center. The team has laid out the basics on ticketing, parking, arena policies and amenities, making it clear that a little advance planning should go a long way toward keeping the night moving smoothly.
Fans are being urged to check their emails for the latest game-day information and to follow the buildings guidelines before arriving, especially with the home opener setting the tone for the season. For a fan base that knows the routine as well as any in the league, the details still matter, and the early-season emphasis is on making sure everyone gets through the doors and into their seats without any avoidable hiccups. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Face An Early Test Fans Will Be Arguing About Fast
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The intrigue only grows because Washington is among those early visitors, with Alex Ovechkin back in the mix after signing a one-year extension as he continues chasing another goals record. Philadelphia and Montreal also show up in that opening stretch, so the Hurricanes will not get much time to settle in before the debates start about how tough the road ahead really is and whether this early run says anything lasting about their season. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Banner Night Comes With An Early Test Fans Will Feel
The celebration in Raleigh will come with the season opener, as the Hurricanes lift their Stanley Cup banner before facing the Panthers, a rematch that already carries a little extra weight. Carolina is bringing back much of the same roster that delivered the championship, which only sharpens the spotlight on a Florida team that spent the offseason reworking itself and still arrives with contender expectations of its own.
The matchup also loses a bit of its star power right away, since both sides are dealing with important early absences. Carolina will open without Seth Jarvis as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, while Florida is expected to go the first month without Brad Marchand because of a lower-body injury, leaving an already charged night to start with a few missing pieces and some unfinished business on the ice. [Read more 🡒]