RALEIGH, N.C. -- Alexander Nikishin remains unsigned for the Carolina Hurricanes, and they’re unsure if and when they’ll have his services.
The 24-year-old defenseman has been a restricted free agent since July 1 and did not attend training camp. Nikishin will not be with the Hurricanes when they begin their defense of the Stanley Cup in their 2026-27 season opener against the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center on Tuesday (5 p.m. ET; ESPN).
“We're trying to find a resolution,” Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky said 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.”
Nikishin played an integral role for the Hurricanes as a rookie last season. He had 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists), was plus-18 and averaged 18:11 of ice time. He then played 17 postseason games during Carolina’s run to the Cup, getting one assist and averaging 14:50 per game.
The Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in six games for their first championship since 2006.
NikIshin has reportedly asked for a trade and has recently changed agents, hiring Paul Theofanous.
“It doesn't change our position any, and I doubt it changes his,” Tulsky said. “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.”
The Hurricanes have their other five defenseman returning: Jalen Chatfield, Shayne Gostisbehere, K'Andre Miller, Jaccob Slavin and Sean Walker. It appears the battle to fill Nikishin’s spot is between rookie Charles Alexis Legault and veteran Mike Reilly, who played 42 regular-season games in 2025-26 and had nine points (one goal, eight assists), mostly filling in while Slavin was out with an upper-body injury. Reilly had two assists in two Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Legault, who turned 23 on Sept. 5, split last season between Carolina and Chicago of the American Hockey League. He had two points (one, goal, one assist) in 12 games with the Hurricanes, and eight points (three goals, five assists) in 24 AHL regular-season games and four points (one goal, three assists) in 16 Calder Cup Playoff games.
He was a fifth-round pick (No. 139) by Carolina at the 2023 NHL Draft.
