On April 11, 2025, the Carolina Hurricanes signed top prospect Alexander Nikishin to a two-year, entry-level contract following the mutual termination of his KHL deal with SKA Saint Petersburg. Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky praised Nikishin’s development in the KHL, where he had 46 points in 61 games as captain, making him the franchise’s all-time leading scorer among defensemen. Carolina, currently second in the Metropolitan Division, drafted Nikishin in 2020, and he helped the Russian Olympic team reach the finals in 2022. His contract is worth $832,500 annually, with a $185,000 signing bonus.
RALEIGH, N.C. — On Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes announced the signing of top prospect Alexander Nikishin to a two-year, entry-level contract that takes effect immediately.
Nikishin, 23, secured his first NHL contract mere hours after he and his KHL team, SKA Saint Petersburg, mutually agreed to terminate their contract. Earlier this week, SKA had a similar arrangement with Montreal’s Ivan Demidov.
“We appreciate Alexander’s contributions during his time with SKA, a leading European hockey organization that has played a significant role in his development into one of the top prospects in the sport,” said Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky in a statement. “His impressive size and skill set have led to a record-breaking career in the KHL, and we are confident he will make a significant impact in the NHL.”
It remains uncertain when Nikishin will join the Hurricanes, who currently sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division and are set for a first-round playoff matchup against the New Jersey Devils.
This past season, Nikishin served as captain of SKA, accumulating 46 points in 61 games and becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer among defensemen.
Carolina selected him in the third round of the 2020 draft, and he played a pivotal role in helping the Russian Olympic Committee reach the Olympic final in Beijing in 2022. His contract is valued at $832,500 per year, prorated for this season, with an additional signing bonus of $185,000.