NHL
Alexander Nikishin Returns to Hurricanes Practice After One-Year Deal
The defenseman is back with Carolina after signing for $3 million; a game return is a separate decision.
Alexander Nikishin returned to Carolina Hurricanes practice Tuesday after signing a one-year, $3 million contract that ended his contract impasse.
The agreement was announced Sunday. Pro Hockey Rumors’ report described the short-term resolution after no trade materialized. Nikishin was also unable to resolve his situation through an offer sheet.
The NHL’s update confirmed his return to the ice with the Hurricanes. Taking part in practice is a meaningful step toward rejoining the lineup, though it does not itself confirm the date of his first game back.
The one-year term also leaves a future contract decision for the player and club. It restores an immediate route to playing together without establishing that their longer-term negotiations are complete.
For Carolina, the next practical questions concern readiness, lineup placement and workload. Those decisions should be judged from the club’s subsequent announcements and actual deployment, rather than inferred from the length or value of the deal alone.
