Prospect Info: #69(nice)OA - Hurricanes select LHD Alexander Nikishin (Spartak - KHL)

[Svechhammer]

Of course. I know this is an unpopular opinion but I think Wilson has been treated overly harshly by the league due to a reputation he didn't fully earn. But that's just me.

I expect Nikishin to bring his physical game over here and immediately step in as the biggest hitter in the league, but I don't think he will make that his identity here like those guys. He has enough skill and talent in all other aspects that he doesn't need to. He could completely eliminate the big hits from his game and still have the potential to be an elite all around 2-way 1D like a Hedman. The huge hits just add to that and there's no coach I trust more to help him find the right balance than RBA.

Didn't Tom Wilson basically become a thing as retaliation to the Pens having guys like Matt Cooke repeatedly injure guys on the Caps when the two teams were battling for division and conference titles?

I cannot wait for the bellyaching next year when Nikishin is out there wrecking guys from the Rangers and the media is suddenly concerned about player safety after slobbing all over the likes of Trouba and Rempe the last few years. He throws hits like we are seeing from him in the KHL, its legitimately going to break the brains of people from NY, and I cannot wait for it to happen.

 

[DaveG]

Of course. I know this is an unpopular opinion but I think Wilson has been treated overly harshly by the league due to a reputation he didn't fully earn. But that's just me.

I expect Nikishin to bring his physical game over here and immediately step in as the biggest hitter in the league, but I don't think he will make that his identity here like those guys. He has enough skill and talent in all other aspects that he doesn't need to. He could completely eliminate the big hits from his game and still have the potential to be an elite all around 2-way 1D like a Hedman. The huge hits just add to that and there's no coach I trust more to help him find the right balance than RBA.

eh a bit - early in his career he was an absolute dirty hit machine out there. Not a Cooke/Torres/Marchment cheap shot artist type, but definitely a guy that went out there with an intent on hurting people when he connected and more than a few of his hits crossed the lines earlier in his career. Either crossing the borderline to dirty line, or crossing the intent to hurt to intent to injure line. He's dialed that in but the reputation will still be there because of earlier in his career.

Mind you it's also an effect of how the game has changed. His hits were rarely if ever in that Cooke/Torres/Messier tier of dirty, more in that Scott Stevens tier of dirty under current rules but "clean" under pre-lockout rules. A throwback player.

Didn't Tom Wilson basically become a thing as retaliation to the Pens having guys like Matt Cooke repeatedly injure guys on the Caps when the two teams were battling for division and conference titles?

I cannot wait for the bellyaching next year when Nikishin is out there wrecking guys from the Rangers and the media is suddenly concerned about player safety after slobbing all over the likes of Trouba and Rempe the last few years. He throws hits like we are seeing from him in the KHL, its legitimately going to break the brains of people from NY, and I cannot wait for it to happen.

Yep, at least in a way. Definitely gave a "sweep the leg" mentality to how the Caps wanted him to play at least.

The whining from New York over Nikishin is going to be sooooooo tasty. Especially considering his hits tend to be clean when he's destroying players. I have yet to see a play where he goes into the Trouba chickenwing bullshit or a full on Rempe charging cheapshot at a player nowhere near the puck.

 

[AD Skinner]

I didn’t really see that hit in the video as dirty… I was mostly impressed at how fast he changed direction and beat the guy back to the net. Looked like the puck carrier was too

 

[Stickpucker]

The goalie was like....I see a choo choo coming and I'm getting off the tracks.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Didn't Tom Wilson basically become a thing as retaliation to the Pens having guys like Matt Cooke repeatedly injure guys on the Caps when the two teams were battling for division and conference titles?

I cannot wait for the bellyaching next year when Nikishin is out there wrecking guys from the Rangers and the media is suddenly concerned about player safety after slobbing all over the likes of Trouba and Rempe the last few years. He throws hits like we are seeing from him in the KHL, its legitimately going to break the brains of people from NY, and I cannot wait for it to happen.

Guys won't be lounging around the net with him patrolling back there (unlike this year in which teams so far are sitting in front of our net) which is of course good.

I'd add, almost all of the checks that I've seen appear to be of the physical but clean variety. As others have mentioned, that's a far cry from Trouba, etc.

 

[Bunch of Jurcos]

I rarely go too far in one direction or the other when it comes to calls. Some go for us more go against us but that's part of how we play. But I swear if they give Nik the Svech treatment where Svech so much as looks at another player wrong, he gets a penalty, I'm going to lose my shit. Will I recover? It depends.

 

[Svechhammer]

I mean to be clear, I don't think what Nikishin does is at all dirty

That doesn't mean it won't break the brains of the same people who have been defending and celebrating Trouba and Rempe the last few years when their players get boomsticked by Nikishin

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I mean to be clear, I don't think what Nikishin does is at all dirty

That doesn't mean it won't break the brains of the same people who have been defending and celebrating Trouba and Rempe the last few years when their players get boomsticked by Nikishin

yeah, think about all the bruins fans who were crying about Svech's hit that sent Lindholm into oblivion a few years ago. That was the cleanest hit possible and bruins fans were crying like it was Trouba's charging flying elbow. As big a hit that was for Svech and the modern NHL that's just a regular Tuesday for Nikishin lol. We're gonna see a lot of threads of his hits created by crying fans of the team whose player got lit up while us and all the neutrals just laugh at them. Like with that Svech hit.

 

[MinJaBen]

I’ll be surprised if he has the foot speed to do that to most guys in the NHL. He’ll still be effective, and the smaller ice will help, but I am going to guess the increase in skill level in the NHL compared to the KHL makes most of his open ice hits like that last video a thing of the past for him.

 

[AD Skinner]

I’ll be surprised if he has the foot speed to do that to most guys in the NHL. He’ll still be effective, and the smaller ice will help, but I am going to guess the increase in skill level in the NHL compared to the KHL makes most of his open ice hits like that last video a thing of the past for him.

I’d love to see him do it over here but I think you’re probably right. Like in this video it’s not like he even blows the dude up, but I think that guy thought he was past the defense and was alone with the goalie. All of a sudden there’s a big body in the way. That is/will be very hard to do against nhl skaters

 

[bleedgreen]

I think he’ll have an edge and be physical when he can but the emphasis will quickly evolve into making sure he doesn’t get beat or taking himself out of a play because he chased a hit. Offensive players support each other in a way that makes you pay for stepping up on a lot of plays that in the past (or elsewhere) you’d be fine.

 

[cptjeff]

Yep me too, instant we sign him officially I’m buying the jersey. I may be his biggest fan on this board


Trouba and Wilson are not the same. Trouba is a piece of shit who consistently targets players heads and chicken wings his elbow out. Wilson plays the game extremely hard and tough and occasionally crosses the line. I’m perfectly fine with Nikishin being like a Wilson, not Trouba. Fortunately he will never be like Trouba since he’s not a massive bitch

Wilson has calmed down in recent years, but he absolutely used to actively target players heads. He had games against us where he would have two or three flying leaps with his elbow targeted right at the head of Aho or other stars, and you could tell he was skating every shift looking for an opportunity to do exactly that. Most of the time our guys dodged, but not always. He was actively attempting to injure people every time he stepped on the ice for a long time, and the league and refs took their sweet ass time responding to it.

But the suspensions, and the Caps calling him on the carpet after them and telling him he had to change his game, did seem to genuinely change how Wilson played. Maybe he grew as a human somewhere in there too. But Wilson used to be significantly worse than Trouba is now.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Wilson has calmed down in recent years, but he absolutely used to actively target players heads. He had games against us where he would have two or three flying leaps with his elbow targeted right at the head of Aho or other stars, and you could tell he was skating every shift looking for an opportunity to do exactly that. Most of the time our guys dodged, but not always. He was actively attempting to injure people every time he stepped on the ice for a long time, and the league and refs took their sweet ass time responding to it.

But the suspensions, and the Caps calling him on the carpet after them and telling him he had to change his game, did seem to genuinely change how Wilson played. Maybe he grew as a human somewhere in there too. But Wilson used to be significantly worse than Trouba is now.

Wilson absolutely earned his reputation as a total shit-heel. Since he entered the league he's gotten 1,434 penalty minutes. Next closest is Pat Maroon at 990. That 444 more penalty minutes, which is also the difference between Maroon at 2 and Dion Phaneuf at 48. That's an Ovechkin-esque level of domination in that stat.

 

[Unsustainable]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1846994737422541028

I mean it's too common with him

 

[HisIceness]

Kid has a great shot

 

[Unsustainable]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1849143230983540913

 

[Unsustainable]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1849150993469981175

 

[chaz4hockey]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1849143230983540913

Draisaitl territory.

 

[LakeLivin]

I'm starting to think this kid might actually make our team.

 

[Svechhammer]

I'm starting to think this kid might actually make our team.

It's crazy to think that it might happen this season.

 

[CandyCanes]

It's crazy to think that it might happen this season.

It is wild. But if we’re healthy, which D is sitting?

 

[MinJaBen]

It is wild. But if we’re healthy, which D is sitting?

Well, after his start to the season, clearly Slavin.














Can’t even make his own national team. SMH.

 

[CanesUltimate11]

It is wild. But if we’re healthy, which D is sitting?

If they want to throw him out there with Chatty it would likely be Orlov. Otherwise probably run 11-7 to get him some looks.

 

[Svechhammer]

It is wild. But if we’re healthy, which D is sitting?

The thing is, we probably won't be healthy, so its unlikely to be an issue.

But if we are, lets let the season play out a bit before we make that determination. Gut feeling says Chatty is probably the one to drop out if Nikishin slots in, but a lot can change between now and that time of the year.

 

[spockBokk]

It is wild. But if we’re healthy, which D is sitting?

I don’t think it’s a stretch to think he’d be a healthy scratch if all 6 current D are healthy AND he actually gets over here prior to the end of the regular season. I don’t see him displacing anyone on the blueline as long as they’re all healthy. Sure, if you want to get him in a few games at the end of the season, that’s great. Let a regular sit and rest. However, I think some expectations need to be tempered for him displacing anyone this season.

Next season, yeah, better hope he’s ready for top 4 duty as they say bye-bye to Orlov. There’s no reason to think he’s not capable of 2nd pair duty though. I just don’t see RBA displacing Orlov for him as long as Orlov is healthy and still under contract.