Alexander Nikishin (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Alexander Nikishin played his first full NHL season and won the Stanley Cup right away with Carolina. In the regular season, the Russian defenceman posted 33 points (11 goals + 22 assists) in 81 games, with a plus-minus of +18.
In the playoffs, though, Nikishin’s role got much smaller. In 17 games, he had just one point (0 goals + 1 assist), with a minus-1 rating, and his average ice time dropped from 18:11 to 14:50. He wasn’t given the role of a top defenceman yet.
Nikishin’s future with the team is now unclear. His contract has ended, but the Hurricanes are not rushing to sign a new one — the team doesn’t have enough salary cap space. Earlier, when asked about rumors that he wants $8 million per season on his new deal, the defenceman smiled and said: “More.”
Nikishin says he is not rushing the talks and fully trusts his agents.
“My agents handle that. I don’t push the situation much, they take care of everything themselves. If something concrete comes up, they’ll call me. Right now there’s nothing concrete about the contract,” the defenceman said in an exclusive interview with RG.
Alexander also reacted calmly to trade rumors, which appeared almost right after Carolina won the Stanley Cup.
“I really didn’t react to that at all. Trade rumors are normal for us.”
Nikishin doesn’t yet say whether he hopes to sign a long-term contract. But he notes that NHL players’ contracts are getting bigger.
“The salary cap keeps growing, and defencemen are getting bigger salaries. You can already feel the difference. I think contracts will keep getting bigger and bigger over time.”
“No Round Was Easy”
The Hurricanes became the first team in NHL history to sweep their first two series 4-0 on the way to the conference final. In the Eastern Conference final, Carolina beat Montreal in five games (4-1). From outside, it might have looked like the team’s path to the final was too easy, but Nikishin disagrees.
“I wouldn’t say it was easy. Actually, it was very hard. It just happened that we won the first series 4-0. Ottawa has a very strong team, we managed to turn the series around in overtime at some point. That was a very tough team. The same can be said about Montreal. Other teams played more games than we did, but no round was easy.”
Between series, Carolina had long breaks — sometimes the team went almost two weeks without a game. Staying sharp under those conditions wasn’t easy.
“The other guys kept playing, while we practiced. We kept working on our shape and watched games. Of course, during that time we missed hockey even more.”
One of the heroes of the championship playoffs was goalie Brandon Bussi, who made his NHL debut only in the 2025/26 season. John Tortorella called Bussi’s appearance in goal in Game 3 one of the turning points of the playoffs.
“He’s done great. Reaching the top with a story like his is really something. Bussi is a good goalie. Actually, we had a very strong goaltending group this season, so it was comfortable playing with any of our goalies.”
More than 180,000 people came to Carolina’s championship parade in Raleigh. For Nikishin, this was the brightest moment of the celebration.
“I’d never seen anything like it before. When you look at photos and videos, you don’t fully understand the scale. I didn’t expect it to be like this. The emotions were incredible, everything was great.”
“You Look at Brind’Amour and Want to Work Harder Yourself”
Another bright moment of the parade was Rod Brind’Amour appearing shirtless. The players tore off the head coach’s shirt, and earlier, in the championship locker room, the 55-year-old coach lifted the Stanley Cup, showing off an impressive physique.
According to Nikishin, the head coach doesn’t work out in the gym together with the players, but practically lives at the arena.
“He trains before our practices. Rod spends a lot of time at the arena and works out a lot himself. He’s in a unique physical shape. He looks great and takes care of himself.
I think there are very few people like him. Especially those who, after ending their playing career, keep themselves in such shape. Of course, it’s motivating. You watch him work, and you want to work even harder yourself.”
Nikishin describes his relationship with Brind’Amour very simply: the coach sets tasks, the player does them.
“He has his job, and I follow the coaching staff’s requirements. There’s no arguing on my part. Whatever they tell me, I do it.”
A Day With the Cup Will Happen in America
Nikishin can’t bring the Stanley Cup to Russia, so he plans to spend his championship day with his family in the US.
“When we go with the family, we’ll definitely take the Cup for one day. Since I can’t bring it to Russia, there’s no other option. I’ll fly in closer to the end of the vacation and try not to take my day with the Cup too late.”
Nikishin hasn’t decided yet where exactly the celebration will take place. Possible options include Carolina or Florida.
“It will all depend on the schedule and how things work out. Maybe I really will spend that day somewhere in Florida, as other guys do. I haven’t even thought about it yet.”
Carolina Among the Favorites to Repeat
Whatever happens with Nikishin’s contract, the Hurricanes aren’t being treated as a one-off story. 22Bet currently lists Carolina among the top three favorites to win the 2026/27 Stanley Cup, behind only Florida:
TeamOddsFlorida Panthers7.6Carolina Hurricanes8.1Colorado Avalanche8.1Edmonton Oilers10.2Vegas Golden Knights11Tampa Bay Lightning13.2Minnesota Wild15Washington Capitals16Dallas Stars17Montreal Canadiens21Utah Mammoth29New Jersey Devils29Anaheim Ducks29Los Angeles Kings31Buffalo Sabres34Ottawa Senators34Toronto Maple Leafs34San Jose Sharks41Philadelphia Flyers50Columbus Blue Jackets50Pittsburgh Penguins80Detroit Red Wings80New York Rangers80Boston Bruins100Seattle Kraken100Calgary Flames100St. Louis Blues100Winnipeg Jets100New York Islanders100Chicago Blackhawks100
With Nikishin, Svechnikov and Bussi all still under 25, Carolina heads into next season with one of the league’s youngest championship cores — and, according to the odds, a real shot at doing it again.