- Elliotte Friedman says the Hurricanes and Rangers had a Nikishin trade in place
- The deal died over the contract, with the Blues also very interested
- Read below for Carolina’s asking price and the Hellebuyck wrinkle
Alexander Nikishin came close to being a New York Ranger.
Elliotte Friedman revealed on Monday’s 32 Thoughts podcast that Carolina and New York actually agreed on a trade for the unsigned defenseman. The holdup was Nikishin’s next contract.
Friedman was running through the league’s unfinished business before opening night when he got to the Hurricanes’ RFA standoff.
“Nikishin was almost traded to the Rangers. They had a deal between the Hurricanes and the Rangers, and they couldn’t come to a contract agreement.”
Catch the full Monday episode here:
Money is where it fell apart. Friedman explained what Nikishin was chasing and how close New York came to meeting it.
“I think Nikishin is looking for around, at least he was, the rumor before the Buium contract came in, was he was looking for around $9 million a year. And I just don’t think the Rangers got there. I don’t think they were far away, but I don’t think they got there.”
That number was reportedly on a five-year term. Zeev Buium then signed an eight-year extension with Vancouver on Sept. 4 at a $9.38 million cap hit, which only gives Nikishin’s camp more to point to.
New York isn’t the only team circling. Friedman said the St. Louis Blues have been around this one and are very interested. Nashville’s name came up earlier this month too.
Carolina’s price hasn’t moved much. The Hurricanes want the equivalent of two first-round picks, whether that’s actual picks or players who went in the first round.
There’s also a goalie angle. Friedman believes Nikishin has been given permission to talk to some teams, partly because the Canes are still interested in Connor Hellebuyck and would like to pull off a three-way deal with Winnipeg. The Jets suspended Hellebuyck for skipping camp:
None of this goes anywhere without the Hurricanes signing off. Nikishin is a 10.2(c) restricted free agent, so he has no arbitration rights and can’t sign an offer sheet. His one real move so far was switching agents last week to Paul Theofanous, who also reps Kirill Kaprizov and Artemi Panarin.
The 24-year-old asked for a trade at the end of last season and never reported to camp. Here’s what he put up as a rookie:
Nikishin finished with 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games, plus a Stanley Cup ring. Opening night is right around the corner, and the Hurricanes still have a Cup-winning defenseman waiting on a phone call.
