Originally published by NHLRumors.com
Maybe Alexander Nikishin’s new agent can get things moving
NHL Network: Elliotte Friedman on NHL Now, talking about the Carolina Hurricanes and RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin wanting out of Carolina and needing a big new extension.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Friedman: “But it takes me to a team at the top, that’s the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. What’s going on with the (Alexander) Nikishan situation there? What are you hearing in regards to just we’ve heard some potential moves that were maybe close to happening, but as the season starts, it seems like this player wants to get some action here, getting moved.”
Friedman: “Well, I do think he wants to be traded. I think he’s made it very clear that he wants to be traded. You know, if you look at Carolina’s contract setup, Mike, they have some contracts like Jackson Blake. They’re like eight-year deals, five, five and a half, $6 million. I think they offered Nikishin that kind of deal. He declined.
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You know, the biggest challenge for him is that he’s got no rights under the CBA. He hasn’t played long enough to be eligible for arbitration this past year. He hasn’t played long enough to be eligible for an offer sheet. So really, Carolina has the complete and total hammer. It’s one of those rare situations where the team has complete control over the player.
And I think one of the things that frustrated Carolina was that they had a deal with the Rangers to trade Nikishin there that they were happy with, and the Rangers and Nikishin, you know, the the Rangers. I heard the number was not low, but it just wasn’t where Nikishin wanted it to be, and he turned down the deal.
Now he’s changed agents. I know St. Louis has tried. I know Nashville has tried. But you’ve got to make a deal that Carolina is comfortable with too. And they’re kind of looking, you know, what Carolina’s kind of looking for right now is they are looking for like two first-round picks or something comparable to that. That’s what they’re looking for.
And you know I think he’s interested in L.A. I just don’t know that L.A. has the ability to make this deal and fit the salary in.
So we’re still here, and you know I do know the Hurricanes were disappointed that Ranger deal didn’t work, and because they have the hammer, they said, ‘Look, we’re going to have this happen on our timeline.’
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Now, I also think Carolina is very interested in Connor Hellebuyck. I think there’s a chance he ends up there, but Nikishin is not signing in Winnipeg. And so I think what Carolina has done is they’ve allowed Nikishin’s new representation to talk to certain teams to see if there’s a way that they can get something, either to get a trade done for Nikishin or facilitate a situation where they might be able to trade for Hellebuyck.
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