While Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin remains unsigned in the midst of a trade request, there’s one card he evidently isn’t willing to play. His Russian agent, Alexander Chernykh, told Match TV’s Pavel Lysenkov that he’s not interested in pursuing a deal in the KHL. Chernykh noted that teams are interested in trading for him; it’s just a matter of Carolina finding a trade they like for him. Nikishin played in 81 games in his rookie season, notching 11 goals and 22 assists while averaging a little over 18 minutes per night of playing time. The belief is that he’s seeking a more prominent role in the lineup like he had back home plus a contract that is pricier than what the Hurricanes can afford cap-wise. But instead of looking to go back to Russia, Nikishin will continue to play the waiting game for a suitable trade.
Elsewhere around the NHL:
Canucks wingers Akil Thomas and Mackenzie MacEachern have no timeline to return to practice, GM Ryan Johnson told reporters including Izzy Cheung of The Hockey News (Twitter link). Thomas is in his first season with Vancouver after playing with AHL Ontario last season while MacEachern spent last season in Vancouver’s system, including eight NHL appearances where he had a goal and three assists. Both players were already in tough to break camp with the big club and these injuries won’t help. If MacEachern isn’t cleared by the start of the season, he will have a small cap charge on Vancouver’s books, proportional to the percentage of time spent on the NHL roster last season.
Still with the Canucks, Adam Novotny might not be OHL-bound after all. Taken 24th overall back in June, Novotny is eligible to go to the AHL this season, notes Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston. While Novotny is only 18 and was drafted out of junior, he was technically on loan last season from Mountfield in Czechia. Accordingly, he’s not subject to the new rule that a Canadian major junior player can only go to the minors at 19 if they’re a first-round pick. Players drafted internationally as Novotny technically was are eligible to go to the AHL at any time. This doesn’t mean that the Canucks will have him start with Abbotsford but they at least have the option to do so.