The Alexander Nikishin has rolled over into a second day with TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reporting upwards of six teams are interested in the Carolina Hurricnaes defenceman.
Dreger reported Wednesday that the Hurricanes were considering a trade involvinng Nikishin, noting the team was weighing interest against the cost of his next contract as a restricted free agent.
On Thursday he called the upcoming extension “a major factor” in trade talks.
Nikishin had 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games last season for the Hurricanes, his first full year in the NHL, also adding one assist in 17 playoff games en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
The Orel, Russia native was selected in the third round (69th overall) by the Hurricanes in the 2020 NHL Draft. He is SKA St. Petersburg’s all-time leader in points by a defenceman with 177.
The club got their of-season started during their Stanley Cup parade, announcing a two-year extension for forward Nicolas Deslauriers.
The Hurricanes have just over $11 million in projected cap space, per PuckPedia with 21 players under contract for next season. Goaltender Frederik Andersen and defenceman Mike Reilly are the team’s only pending unrestricted free agents, while Nikishin is their lone RFA.
