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

[DaveG]

they'll make every attempt to do so, but we'll see if SKA releases him from his contract if they're out early.

 

[Borsig]

I'd be more concerned about the immigration issues at this point coming out of Russia.

 

[chaz4hockey]

I'd be more concerned about the immigration issues at this point coming out of Russia.

Nah, according to Tripp, Trump and Rubio are Caniacs.

 

[Borsig]

Nah, according to Tripp, Trump and Rubio are Caniacs.

YUGE Caniacs.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

If, say, SKA out of the playoffs early, and Nikishin's season is over, will Carolina sign him to play in the coming NHL playoffs?

By all accounts as soon as SKA will let him out of his contract the Canes will sign him. The question of whether he will play in the playoffs is anybody's guess. Rod is known to favor veterans heavily over young guys however he also does reward young guys who have put in the work and really show they belong like Jarvis and Blake recently -- I would think Nikishin will very easily fall into that 2nd category but the question is will Rod have enough time to actually see him in person with the team to make the call to give him an opportunity or will he heavily weigh what Nikishin has done in the K up to this point? Like I said, anybody's guess.

If I had to guess I think Rod will either make him the #7 or rotate him in on the 3rd pair. If SKA gets knocked out in rd1 and Nikishin could make it over in the regular season that could change things though.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

By all accounts as soon as SKA will let him out of his contract the Canes will sign him. The question of whether he will play in the playoffs is anybody's guess. Rod is known to favor veterans heavily over young guys however he also does reward young guys who have put in the work and really show they belong like Jarvis and Blake recently -- I would think Nikishin will very easily fall into that 2nd category but the question is will Rod have enough time to actually see him in person with the team to make the call to give him an opportunity or will he heavily weigh what Nikishin has done in the K up to this point? Like I said, anybody's guess.

If I had to guess I think Rod will either make him the #7 or rotate him in on the 3rd pair. If SKA gets knocked out in rd1 and Nikishin could make it over in the regular season that could change things though.

At this point I'm more worried about Morrow being sent down when Orlov comes back.

Whatever happens with Nikishin will happen. If we play him, it burns a ELC year, if we don't we get an extra year of low cost, and if we can use SKA not terminating his contract early as an excuse to have that extra year, even better. I do fully expect we'll have him inked to a max extension contract as soon as we can negotiate his after-ELC deal.