LD Alexander Nikishin - SKA St.Petersburg, KHL (2020, 69th, CAR)

[Atas2000]

Ok.

"So in a way yes, it makes no sense to praise one for being "remarkable" but be unsure (at best) about the other."

If it does not make sense to you, then yes, you are biased. It's okay to like one prospect on his own. It's okay to be unsure about some aspects of another's game on his own. The two are not twins. What does one has to do with the other?

 

[Caser]

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

So does Nikishin play PP and PK now?

when might he come to nhl?

 

[Atas2000]

So does Nikishin play PP and PK now?

when might he come to nhl?

If memory serves they have injury issues. That's why he is promoted to PP. He is one of Spartak's relied upon DD's though, so he was always playing PK this season.

As for the NHL he should follow Gavrikov's footsteps. That's who I would compare him to. Gavrikov came over at 23-24. Plenty of time for Nikishin to work on his game.

 

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Named to the Russia's roster for the Olympics.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Named to the Russia's roster for the Olympics.

But what we all really wanted to know --- was Mukhamadullin named?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Named to the Russia's roster for the Olympics.

What's your view on his ability to translate to the NHL? I've seen lots of highlights of big hits and what now, but I just don't know enough about him. Does he have the skating and defensive IQ to succeed in the NHL?

 

[Caser]

What's your view on his ability to translate to the NHL? I've seen lots of highlights of big hits and what now, but I just don't know enough about him. Does he have the skating and defensive IQ to succeed in the NHL?

Depends on what his development looks further, but in terms of the potential my opinion is that we can think about the 2nd pairing in the NHL.

 

[Atas2000]

But what we all really wanted to know --- was Mukhamadullin named?

Mukhamadullin was scratched. Hopefully that won't result in an unhealthy discussion.

 

[Flynn84]

So, he was great at the Olympics?

 

[SoundAndFury]

I'd say so.

Depends on what his development looks further, but in terms of the potential my opinion is that we can think about the 2nd pairing in the NHL.

Bit late to the party but at this point, even a low-end 1st pair doesn't seem out of the question. His puck skills are coming along nicely. Holistically, there just aren't many holes in his game for a defenseman with that kind of size and physical ability.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

For those that watch him.

a) How is his skating. Not just straighline speed, but the ability to transition quickly as that's critical for any NHL defensemen (not saying it isn't critical for the KHL too, I just don't watch the KHL).

b) How is his quick decision making process. As a Canes fans, one of the things that stands out with guys like Pesce and Slavin is that they are able to make quick decisions (both with the puck and without) and the vast majority of time, they make the right call.

Carolina typically plays an aggressive style that has the defensemen pinching and jumping into the play a lot and they play tight gaps in the neutral zone so these two items are key to a defenseman's success in Carolina.

 

[SoundAndFury]

His skating is slightly above average which is still outstanding for a 20 yo his size. Regarding the 2nd point, I don't feel I have watched him close enough to give a confident answer since you don't really get exposed in the KHL the same way and he plays with Heed most of the time so often the only decision he has to make is to give the puck to his defense partner by design.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Traded to SKA for Chibrikov, Svechkov, Krovyakov, a couple of plugs and rights to Marchenko, Morozov, Rubtsov and Maltsev.

Alright, maybe Nikita Sedov at eliteprospects.com isn't that plug.

 

[spockBokk]

Traded to SKA for Chibrikov, Svechkov, Krovyakov, a couple of plugs and rights to Marchenko, Morozov, Rubtsov and Maltsev.

Alright, maybe Nikita Sedov at eliteprospects.com isn't that plug.

Seems like a lot

 

[Kshahdoo]

Seems like a lot

It depends. If Chibrikov and Svechkov resign with Spartak next year, it's a lot. If not, it's not. There is a chance they will go to NA next season.

 

[Kipper933]

You would think SKA would only give up that kind of package if there was some kind of assurance from Nikishin that he was planning to stay around the KHL for a while.

 

[FlappyGiraffe]

It depends. If Chibrikov and Svechkov resign with Spartak next year, it's a lot. If not, it's not. There is a chance they will go to NA next season.

Knowing the Jets, there will be a huge push to get Chibrikov to the moose/jets next season once he's a UFA

 

[QJL]

You would think SKA would only give up that kind of package if there was some kind of assurance from Nikishin that he was planning to stay around the KHL for a while.

Word is he is signing a 3 year contract. Great for SKA. Not great for Carolina.

 

[spockBokk]

Word is he is signing a 3 year contract. Great for SKA. Not great for Carolina.

Not ideal, no, but CAR is good on the left slide with Slavin signed for 3 more yrs and Skjei for 2 more. Nikishin getting 20mins a night or more in the KHL for the next 3 yrs works out pretty well when they’ll need him to step in, potentially right into their top 4 on his ELC.

Grudinin might be ready by then too, who knows. Wouldn’t they now be teammates?

 

[Caser]

Word is he is signing a 3 year contract. Great for SKA. Not great for Carolina.

So he has signed until the end of 2024/25, great for SKA, probably great for Nikishin too, as the salary increase should be really notable. Not great for Carolina, but I don't think it is tragic for them either, as effectively it is just one more year than it was previously.

 

[Parliament]