The Carolina Hurricanes opened their season by falling to the Florida Panthers 1-0 with 4.3 seconds left in overtime. Carolina did so without restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin. Nikishin did not report to camp and has asked for a change of scenery.
“We’re trying to find a resolution,” Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky told the media Monday. “He has largely kept things out of the media, and I want to be respectful and make sure when players talk to me, they know it’s just between us. So, if they’re not talking to the media, I’m not going to either. Both sides are trying to find a resolution and figure out how we go forward from here.”
The Latest on Alexander Nikishin
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given how things were handled when Nikishin first came over from Russia. There was uncertainty about his usage and playing time. Not to mention, the first contract took a while. Despite winning a Stanley Cup, Alexander Nikishin feels his talents are being limited by being stuck behind Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker.
It is no secret that Carolina will not go over a certain amount for players. They want the players to buy into what they are selling. As reported, Nikishin had been looking for $8 million a season, and it has now risen to $9 million a season.
Alexander Nikishin Rumors – The Rangers Talk May Have been at the Draft
Is 33 points (11 goals and 22 assists) in 81 games worth over $9 million a season? Well, Nikishin’s agent will look at Buium and say he had 26 points (six goals and 20 assists) and just got $9.38 million a season.
The Carolina Hurricanes offered him an eight-year deal worth $5 million to $6 million per year, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. So already that was a lowball number. Friedman also reported that the Hurricanes and Rangers had a deal in place that met what the Hurricanes wanted in terms of value, but Nikishin and the Rangers couldn’t agree on the dollar amount.
Nikishin changed agents from Benjamin Kreyzerman of Quartexx to Paul Theofanous as he looks for a new home and contract.
“It doesn’t change our position any, and I doubt it changes his,” Tulsky added. “It brings a new voice into the room. Maybe that helps us find a resolution. I don’t know. We both understand where the other side is (and) we just need to figure out a way to resolve it.”
NHL Rumors: Alexander Nikishin and the Hurricanes … Will Smith and the Sharks
The St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Los Angeles Kings, and other teams have shown interest. Despite being connected to the Winnipeg Jets as part of a Connor Hellebuyck trade, Nikishin isn’t signing in Winnipeg. The Jets already know this, and it doesn’t make sense to acquire a player without a contract.
If they can work a three-team deal with the Blues, Predators, Kings, or another team that satisfies all parties, then it will make sense. However, as Tulsky told the media on Monday, the trade will happen when it happens.
One thing is clear: Alexander Nikishin’s time with the Carolina Hurricanes is over.
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