Alexander Nikishin wants out of Carolina, and the Hurricanes have now given him permission to talk to some teams.
Elliotte Friedman shared the update on Friday's edition of 32 Thoughts, just months after the defenseman helped the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup.
He dressed for 81 games last season, his first full NHL campaign, and put up 33 points.
He also finished plus-18, then played 17 more games during Carolina's Cup run.
Before that, the Russian blueliner was a steady producer in the KHL, with 56 points for SKA St. Petersburg in 2023-24.
His $925,000 cap hit ran through last season and ended with restricted free agency.
So why would a 24-year-old Cup winner ask out of the organization that drafted him?
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Alexander Nikishin wants out as Hurricanes trade talks begin
Permission to talk is a big tell. Clubs don't hand that out unless they're open to a deal.
At 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds with a left shot, he won't be hard to market.
He's also handled the Olympic stage, playing six games for ROC at the 2022 Games.
The Hurricanes should take their time here. Moving a young defenseman off a Cup-winning blue line for a quick return would be a bad trade.
A trade request with permission attached is like a two-week notice with a reference letter. Everyone stays polite, but the desk is already getting cleaned out.
Nikishin didn't dress when the Hurricanes beat Nashville 6-5 on Thursday.
He's still chasing his first NHL playoff goal, though, after 21 postseason games.
It's a busy weekend for Tulsky. The Hurricanes also signed Pyotr Kochetkov to a two-year extension worth $3.95 million per season on Friday.
The club already carries Andrei Svechnikov at $7,750,000 through 2028-29, so every contract decision on this roster now comes with cap math attached.
Rod Brind'Amour's group, now 2-1-0 this preseason, plays in Nashville this afternoon, then opens the regular season Tuesday at home against Florida.
Whether Nikishin is on that blue line for the opener depends on how quickly one of those conversations turns into an offer.
Should the Hurricanes grant Alexander Nikishin's trade request before opening night?
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