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

I think there is a good chance that Nikishin may be able to come over close to immediately after he is out of the KHL playoffs. I think there is a chance that they could argue that he would be eligible for an O1 visa. This is reserved for an individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement. Most foreign NHL players come over on a P1-A visa. The P1A visa requires that a contract be tendered and if you play for expedited processing will be processed within 15 days. The O1 visa does not require a contract but will be processed within 45 days (but I think with premium processing can be reduced to 15 days). Based on this and the timeline of when he signed with his US agent (March 11th) he could already have the Visa in hand.

No guarantees that he would be approved for O1 status however a few years ago Hansel Emmanuel was granted an O1 visa and if he had demonstrated this ability at the time there is a very strong case to be made for Nikishin.
 
I think there is a good chance that Nikishin may be able to come over close to immediately after he is out of the KHL playoffs. I think there is a chance that they could argue that he would be eligible for an O1 visa. This is reserved for an individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement. Most foreign NHL players come over on a P1-A visa. The P1A visa requires that a contract be tendered and if you play for expedited processing will be processed within 15 days. The O1 visa does not require a contract but will be processed within 45 days (but I think with premium processing can be reduced to 15 days). Based on this and the timeline of when he signed with his US agent (March 11th) he could already have the Visa in hand.

No guarantees that he would be approved for O1 status however a few years ago Hansel Emmanuel was granted an O1 visa and if he had demonstrated this ability at the time there is a very strong case to be made for Nikishin.
Given the current state of immigration in the US being a Russian might get him moved to the front of the line :sarcasm:
 
I think they go 2-2-1-1-1 like the NHL. Game 5 is in Moscow.
They do, I confused myself looking at google showing game 5 with SKA on the bottom which is typically where they put the home team, but apparently they do it the opposite way for the K. So yeah really good chance Dynamo eliminates them tomorrow and we could see Nikishin this weekend.
 
They do, I confused myself looking at google showing game 5 with SKA on the bottom which is typically where they put the home team, but apparently they do it the opposite way for the K. So yeah really good chance Dynamo eliminates them tomorrow and we could see Nikishin this weekend.
It's the Euro way (similar to how they show soccer matches) with Home team first.
 
I think there is a good chance that Nikishin may be able to come over close to immediately after he is out of the KHL playoffs. I think there is a chance that they could argue that he would be eligible for an O1 visa. This is reserved for an individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement. Most foreign NHL players come over on a P1-A visa. The P1A visa requires that a contract be tendered and if you play for expedited processing will be processed within 15 days. The O1 visa does not require a contract but will be processed within 45 days (but I think with premium processing can be reduced to 15 days). Based on this and the timeline of when he signed with his US agent (March 11th) he could already have the Visa in hand.

No guarantees that he would be approved for O1 status however a few years ago Hansel Emmanuel was granted an O1 visa and if he had demonstrated this ability at the time there is a very strong case to be made for Nikishin.
Confirmed O1-A visas can be given premium 15 day processing for $2,805.
 
Pending his health there does seem to be a great chance Nikishin will be here for that Caps game. SKA can get eliminated tomorrow or probably more likely on the road on Sunday/Monday.

Do we really want the guy coming off a couple injuries this year to face a reckless Wilson his first game in the league? Sounds like an easy way to ensure he doesn't play for us at all this year
 
Hes been playing against men for years now. I think he can handle Wilson.

It's less about whether he can handle Wilson and more about risk/reward. We can assume Wilson is going to play the next game recklessly and probably with an attempt to injure. What does putting Nikishin in that game accomplish, other than needlessly exposing him to a guy like that? It's not like anything any Canes player (Nikishin or otherwise) does is going to prevent Wilson from playing like that, should we face each other in the playoffs.
 
Incredibly short-sighted takes, but to each their own, I suppose
There’s nothing reasonable about this board and its expectations for Nikishin. I stopped talking about it a year or two ago. I’m still just hoping he’s good enough to be a second pair guy as we really need it and I think Morrow is going to be a mess defensively. I also think Rod will be hesitant to use the kid in the situations we are about to be in.
 
There’s nothing reasonable about this board and its expectations for Nikishin. I stopped talking about it a year or two ago. I’m still just hoping he’s good enough to be a second pair guy as we really need it and I think Morrow is going to be a mess defensively. I also think Rod will be hesitant to use the kid in the situations we are about to be in.

Don't get me wrong. I'm as excited about the guy as the next Canes fan. That's why I'm saying putting him in a game with a higher chance of dirty play than usual is needlessly risky. Nothing could derail his (hopefully) long NHL career quicker than a Wilson elbow to the head
 
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Don't get me wrong. I'm as excited about the guy as the next Canes fan. That's why I'm saying putting him in a game with a higher chance of dirty play than usual is needlessly risky. Nothing could derail his (hopefully) long NHL career quicker than a Wilson elbow to the head
By that logic none of our core pieces should play so we should just forfeit the game
 
I mean, we are essentially locked into our playoff spot. Sitting out core pieces for that game should definitely be a consideration. It's not going to happen, but it's definitely a thought
It makes more sense for current roster guys to sit than Nikishin. Your take is just incredibly soft. Nobody is afraid that Wilson is going to hurt them. If Nikishin is still banged up and only playing in the K right now because it's playoffs then sure hold him out until he's recovered -- I alluded to that in my post you replied to.

But if he's fine to play and not re-aggravate that injury then there is zero incentive to sit him out because "oh no we're afraid of tom wilson." Much better to get him regular season run to see what we have in him and give him big opportunity without risk of losing games because to your point winning these games doesn't matter. But getting Nikishin acclimated for a potentially large role in the playoffs does matter and if he's here and signed and healthy he should be playing and playing a lot of minutes so Rod has as much info as possible to make the lineup decision come playoff time.

Nobody knows for sure but Nikishin does absolutely project as a true difference maker as soon as this playoff run. Is this the best roster we've had under Rod? No absolutely not. But is it a team that could make a run and win it all? Yes absolutely, and if Nikishin proves to be the real deal right from the jump that just makes it even more possible/likely.
 
It makes more sense for current roster guys to sit than Nikishin. Your take is just incredibly soft. Nobody is afraid that Wilson is going to hurt them. If Nikishin is still banged up and only playing in the K right now because it's playoffs then sure hold him out until he's recovered -- I alluded to that in my post you replied to.

The same Tom Wilson that has, repeatedly, injured players on questionable hits/plays? The one that was apparently telling the Canes players “Hey, I’m going to injure your team” in the first period of this last game, and then proceeded to try and do just that for the rest of the game? That’s the one we apparently shouldn’t be worried about?

You can call my take soft. I call my take logical. The game means nothing, we KNOW he’s going to start shit next game, why risk the highly touted prospect we’ve been waiting half a decade for? Oh no, he might miss one game and that won’t allow him to get acclimated. You know what else might prevent him from getting acclimated? A concussion.
 

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