Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin requested a trade earlier this offseason and still desires a change of scenery as of Monday, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Nikishin, a restricted free agent, isn't eligible for an offer sheet.
A report in June indicated that the Hurricanes were open to trading Nikishin, though there was no mention of a trade request at the time. In June, Carolina reportedly offered Nikishin and a first-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Nikishin, who stands at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, tallied 33 points in 81 games as a rookie in 2025-26, finishing seventh in Calder Trophy voting. He also added one assist in 17 postseason appearances during Carolina's Stanley Cup run.
The 24-year-old's average time on ice dropped from 18:11 in the regular season to 14:50 in the playoffs. His place on the depth chart would likely remain unchanged if he re-signs with the Hurricanes, as the team's top five defensemen from last season remain on the roster.
Drafted in the third round by Carolina in 2020, Nikishin established himself as one of the KHL's top defensemen before joining the Hurricanes ahead of the 2024-25 postseason.
