Nearly a month into the season, Alexander Nikishin and the Carolina Hurricanes are still stuck in the same place.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the two sides remain at a standstill, with Carolina still holding a one-year offer for the restricted free-agent defenseman. Nikishin, for his part, has not signed it and continues to seek a trade. LeBrun also said the Hurricanes nearly moved him last year, but Nikishin declined to sign an extension with that potential destination.
For now, Carolina can afford to wait. The defending Stanley Cup champions have opened the year with 18 points in their first 12 games, and because Nikishin is a 10.2(c) RFA, the team does not have to get him under contract by December 1. In theory, the Hurricanes could even hold off until the trade deadline if they wanted him to be eligible for the postseason.
Elsewhere, the New York Rangers cleared room after adding veteran Luke Glendening yesterday. The club announced that Justin Dowling has been sent down to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Dowling, 36, picked up one assist in four games during his stint with New York.
In Dallas, the Stars are still waiting for more clarity on Radek Faksa. Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News reported that the bottom-six forward is being evaluated after leaving the Stars’ recent win over the Winnipeg Jets. He is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, and Dallas is expected to have a better read on his status tomorrow.
In Other News...
How Dallas Built A Team Identity Fans Should Be Watching
The Stars roster has long carried a distinctly Finnish flavor, a thread that goes back to Jere Lehtinen and the way he helped shape the organizations comfort with talent from that hockey culture. It is not just a novelty anymore. Over time, Dallas has built a reputation for leaning into players who bring a similar approach to structure, patience and two-way responsibility, and that identity has become part of what makes the team feel different from a lot of its peers.
Right now, that influence is woven into the lineup in all the places that matter most. The teams Finnish core gives Dallas a dependable backbone up front and on the blue line, with players who can drive play and anchor the defensive side of the game. For a club hoping that its style can translate into results this season and beyond, that kind of shared background is more than a talking point. It is part of the Stars competitive edge, and it is worth watching to see how far it can carry them. [Read more 🡒]