Alexander Nikishin’s future in Carolina still looks unsettled, and the biggest development is that the 24-year-old defenseman reportedly remains firm on one point: he wants out, and he does not want a return to the KHL.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that more sources have confirmed the unsigned restricted free agent still wants to be traded, even after winning a Stanley Cup. LeBrun added that Nikishin does not believe he fits with the Hurricanes.
That idea of a KHL return has also been floating around, but Nikishin’s camp pushed back hard on that notion. @Uggg_uggg, translating Pavel Lysenkov’s interview with Nikishin’s agent Alexander Chernykh on Match TV, said Chernykh dismissed LeBrun’s report and said Nikishin is not close to considering a return to the KHL and is not going back. He also said Nikishin’s wife is getting closer to having their baby.
For now, the Hurricanes are holding their ground. The report says there are plenty of teams interested in trading for Nikishin, but Carolina is refusing to move him at the moment.
One possibility that has been mentioned is a fit with the Winnipeg Jets, who are said to have interest in Hurricanes goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The question is whether Nikishin could be part of any such deal, and whether he would sign a long-term contract with Winnipeg.
Another Hurricanes name worth watching is pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Jalen Chatfield. Darren Ferris represents him, and Ferris has a reputation for taking clients all the way to free agency to maximize their paydays.
Elsewhere, Elliotte Friedman offered a strong read on Shawn Horcoff’s opening in Detroit. On 32 Thoughts: The Podcast - The New Cap Era, Friedman said the Red Wings disputed something he had said on the podcast, and noted that Christopher Ilitch told a Detroit columnist that everyone the team had permission for was interviewed. Still, Friedman said Horcoff has a major chance in front of him as interim GM.
“You know, I’ll also say this: the Red Wings disputed something I said on the podcast. And Christopher Ilitch did an interview with one of the Detroit columnists, he said everybody we had permission for, we interviewed. So let me just say that the Red Wings disputed that for the record.
But I think Horcoff is an incredible opportunity here. He has the advantage.
He is in the chair. He has a chance to show he can do what nobody else can do right now, and that is show that he is capable of the job.
And you know, I’ll say this: when this whole search was going on, there were a lot of rumors. Okay, and as you know, some rumors are true, and some rumors are not true.
And one of the rumors was that nobody with an Yzerman connection was going to get this job. They wanted a different kind of approach, or idea, or skill set.
And you know that world doesn’t always work that way.
Here’s somebody with an obvious Yzerman connection who gets the chance. And if I was Shawn Horcoff, I would be like, I’m proving to you that I am the right person for this. This is my job, and I’m never letting go of it.”
In Other News...
Carolinas Alexander Nikishin Standoff Just Put The Hurricanes In A Bind
Alexander Nikishins situation has quietly turned into one of the more awkward early storylines around Carolinas training camp. The restricted free agent defenseman is still waiting on a contract resolution, and the Hurricanes have already made it clear they are not going to keep talking publicly about it. For a team that has invested in adding blue-line talent, the hold-up is a reminder that not every roster issue gets settled neatly by the calendar.
Nikishins leverage is limited by his NHL service time, which leaves Carolina in control of his rights even as the standoff lingers. The tension now is less about whether the Hurricanes can force the issue and more about how long both sides are willing to wait before something finally gives. For the moment, the team appears content to be patient, but the longer this drags on, the more it hangs over a group trying to get its camp into a normal rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Bradly Nadeau Is Bringing A Different Edge Into Hurricanes Camp
Bradly Nadeau heads into Hurricanes camp next year with a much different feel around his game than when he first started pushing for a bigger role. After splitting last season between Carolina and Chicago, he already has a taste of both levels, including three goals in 12 NHL games and a productive stretch with the Wolves that helped carry them deep into the spring.
Nadeau also comes in with some valuable playoff mileage and a clearer sense of what the pro game demands, especially after spending time under coaches who helped shape his approach. The next step is turning those lessons into a more consistent impact at the NHL level, where the margin for young scorers gets thinner and every shift asks for a little more detail. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Still Face One Crucial Roster Question After Latest Deal
The Hurricanes have already taken one major step toward stabilizing their roster by keeping captain Jordan Staal in place on a one-year contract extension, a move that helps preserve a familiar voice in the room as the club heads into another important stretch of team-building. Even with that settled, general manager Eric Tulsky made it clear the work is not finished, saying discussions are ongoing with other pending unrestricted free agents as Carolina continues sorting out its next round of decisions.
What makes the picture more interesting is that the roster puzzle is not just about who stays, but who can handle new responsibilities if the lineup shifts. Seth Jarviss expected absence leaves an opening up front, and Bradly Nadeau is one candidate who could be asked to step into a top-six role. Elsewhere, prospect William Hakansson has been loaned to Sodertalje in Swedens Allsvenskan for more playing time, a reminder that the Hurricanes are trying to manage both the present roster and the longer development track at the same time. [Read more 🡒]