The Carolina Hurricanes have put a steep price on Alexander Nikishin, and it surfaced this week.
Elliotte Friedman, in Monday's edition of 32 Thoughts, said he believes Carolina wants something akin to two first-round picks for the Russian defenseman.
Two firsts. For a blueliner with one full NHL season on his résumé.
But look at what that season was. He dressed for 81 games and finished with 33 points.
The goal column is what jumps out. Eleven goals from the back end, and plenty of teams can't get that from their top pair.
Then there's the plus-18. On a Rod Brind'Amour team that lives on structure and puck pressure, that number carries weight in the room.
Nikishin's quiet playoff run muddies the Hurricanes' asking price
The spring didn't go the same way. Across 17 playoff games, Nikishin was held without a goal and managed a single assist.
That's the stretch a rival GM will lead with whenever Eric Tulsky picks up the phone.
Think of it like selling a car off a spotless highway log. Buyers still want to hear about the one time it stalled in traffic.
The contract picture adds another layer. His last deal carried a $925,000 cap hit through 2025-26, with restricted free agent status attached at the end.
That bargain rate is in the rearview. Any team kicking tires has to price in what his next number looks like, not just the picks.
The résumé before Raleigh holds up. He posted 56 points with SKA St. Petersburg in 2023-24, the middle of three productive KHL seasons with that club.
And the frame is hard to find. He's 6-foot-3, 218 pounds, and shoots left, which is a profile general managers chase every deadline.
Here's where I land. Two firsts isn't Carolina being greedy, and moving him for picks would be a mistake for a team that needs his minutes now.
Carolina found him 69th overall in 2020. Flipping a third-rounder into a pair of firsts looks great on paper, and it still leaves a hole on the left side.
The Hurricanes aren't exactly reeling on the ice. They've won three straight, including a 6-0 win in Nashville on Saturday.
Florida comes in tonight. Then Washington visits Friday, with a trip to Philadelphia the very next day.
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Should the Hurricanes trade Alexander Nikishin if a team offers two first-round picks?
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