The wait is over: Nikishin is on the way

[DaveG]

Why’d this guy last until the 3rd round? Late bloomer? Seems like he checks a lot of boxes

there were some concerns about a heart condition (which also left him off the WJC team that year as well IIRC) that scared off some teams from drafting him.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Well, #1, he's a d-man, so understandable. #2, maybe he's a better player.

Demidov is the leading scorer for SKA, but he must be their 11th best forward considering he's 11th in avg ice time among forwards...

 

[Derailed75]

Awesome, how long till he can bounce from Carolina?

A few rounds after the Leafs!

 

[Leafs87]

A few rounds after the Leafs!

But likely a few rounds earlier than Rantanen

 

[NVious]

I heard Kravtsov has been mentoring him, so expect greatness.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Awesome, how long till he can bounce from Carolina?

What makes you so sure he’d want to do that?

 

[Derailed75]

But likely a few rounds earlier than Rantanen

Very possible. I don't think Rantanen's play will have anything to do with that. He hasn't been much better in D than in Raleigh.

Would much rather have Hall, Stankoven, and Jankowski. Plus whatever they can do with all those picks.

 

[Derailed75]

Also what a clapback BTW.

Ok so my team is trash and yours is better but hey some team somewhere is better than yours!

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

But likely a few rounds earlier than Rantanen

ok?

Not exactly the burn you think it is. The team has been much better without him, we're very content with what we got for him

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

What makes you so sure he’d want to do that?

Because its hard for a lot of people on here to understand why someone would want to play for a non-large market team

 

[CrashOut]

I haven’t seen a single second of their games with SKA, not even sure how to follow it I wanted to, but pure stat watching, Nikishin is producing the same offense as a Dman…can the gap really be that clear?

He played 13mins a game. Are you for real? He got shafted every other week by the coach trying to punish him for wanting to play in NA.

They didn't have the same impact. Demidov was by far the best player on that team.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Imagine posting in a thread about Nikishin coming over to the NHL and making it about Mikko Rantanen somehow

 

[CanesUltimate11]

Solid middle pair guy. Low upside and you don’t want him logging big minutes or anything, but he’s a decently well rounded role player.

Also has one hell of a judo throw

 

[ViD]

have him as my 4th best d prospect outside of the NHL right now, behind ASP, Hutson, and Buium.

Is this a joke? Is terms of their current playing ability, he’s head and shoulders above them

 

[tarheelhockey]

Nobody came here to talk about Demidov or Rantanen. It’s just a thread about an interesting prospect who will come into the league soon.

 

[koyvoo]

I’ve been patiently waiting for his arrival as well. Not because I’m a Canes fan, but I drafted him in my fantasy dynasty league a few years back.

My one question/concern right now is after the ridiculous couple of years in the K, why was TDA just handed the reigns for the time he was there?

 

[ViD]

Nobody came here to talk about Demidov or Rantanen. It’s just a thread about an interesting prospect who will come into the league soon.

Definitely the better Russian defenseman to come out of Russian league in years

 

[Coffee]

Finally

 

[Giant Panda]

Is this a joke? Is terms of their current playing ability, he’s head and shoulders above them

Current playing ability? Oh yeah, he's better than the 19 year olds (and 20 year old)

 

[StreetHawk]

I have a feeling SKA will hold Nikushin / Gritsyuk and Demidov to the May 31 contract end date. Just to make a point.

That would be an interesting question as the Worlds are in May. If he doesn't sign soon then what are the rule regarding his elc.

At age 23 before Sept 15, 2025, he would be required to sign a 2 year elc.

But, if he signs on Sept 16, he would be 24 by the next Sept 15, 2026. Would that then make him a 1 year elc if he doesn't get his release by his KHL club to play in the NHL this season?
By then camp would have started.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Aside from Pronger who does he compare to perhaps more realistically? Seems promising. NHL desperately needs physicality.

 

[Ezpz]

Aside from Pronger who does he compare to perhaps more realistically? Seems promising. NHL desperately needs physicality.

Honestly physicality in the khl is very frequently overstated. Don't be suprised if he's a lot closer to Dougie Hamilton.

 

[CrashOut]

Aside from Pronger who does he compare to perhaps more realistically? Seems promising. NHL desperately needs physicality.

He plays nothing like Pronger. Biggest myth out there.

More like Ekholm, which isn't a bad outcome at all.

But he is nowhere near Pronger or even Weber level of physicality/mean streak.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Honestly physicality in the khl is very frequently overstated. Don't be suprised if he's a lot closer to Dougie Hamilton.

Ah, a Montreal Canadian fan commenting on a Cane player.....not a surprising take.

 

[CrashOut]

Nobody came here to talk about Demidov or Rantanen. It’s just a thread about an interesting prospect who will come into the league soon.

Then why did you wrote that ?

"Alex Nikishin is widely viewed as the best prospect currently outside the NHL."

Widely viewed by nobody else but you.