There have already been multiple sign-and-trades for pending free agents this offseason. Darren Raddysh was sent from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Alex Tuch got a new deal while going from the Buffalo Sabres to the Washington Capitals.
Now, the lone pending restricted free agent for the Carolina Hurricanes could be joining the sign-and-trade list, according to Darren Dreger of TSN.
“Strong market circling Alexander Nikishin. Upwards of 6 teams in the mix. As a pending restricted free agent, his contract ask is clearly a major factor,” Dreger posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The Hurricanes are in a strong position to win another Cup in 2026-27. They are bringing back nearly everyone from the 2026 Cup run, with only Frederik Andersen and Mike Reilly as unrestricted free agents, and Nikishin as a restricted free agent.
The 24-year-old blueliner was the 69th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft. He would continue to play in the KHL with SKA Saint Petersburg through 2024-25. Nikishin would then sign his entry-level contract, leading to him playing four playoff games for the Canes in 2025. He played in 81 games this season for the team, finding the back of the net 11 times while adding 22 helpers. He also played in 17 playoff games with one assist. He missed two games in the playoffs due to a concussion.
The Hurricanes have just $10 million in cap space this offseason, which could make moving Nikishin a necessary financial move for the club. He is projected to get between $3.7 and $6.4 million in AAV on a new contract, depending on the length of the deal.
As the NHL Draft approaches on Friday and free agency opens next week, a deal could be coming sooner than later for Nikishin.
