7/6/26 | Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts that there was traction between the Rangers and Hurricanes on Nikishin and that he wonders if the Rangers were offering the same Top-10 protected 2030 First Round Pick that they ended up sending to Vancouver for Marcus Pettersson.
He adds that when they circled back that the issue became the Rangers and Nikishin not being able to agree on a contract.
7/1/26 | 11:07AM:Darren Dreger said on TSN that he thinks Nikishin will end up in the Western Conference.
6/30/26 | Elliotte Friedman said on Monday and again on Tuesday that the Rangers have been trying to acquire Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
Friedman said on Monday that Carolina wants a player in return and that he heard “the Rangers offered them a few picks, including a first, and I just don’t think they are interested in that.”
On Tuesday, Friedman said “I think it’s heating up around Nikishin” and that the Rangers are “trying again and they really want him and I think he would be happy going there.”
Friedman added that he thinks Nikishin turned down a long-term deal from Carolina.
Nikishin, 24, is a pending RFA but he doesn’t have arbitration rights and isn’t eligible to sign an offer sheet.
He had 11 goals and 22 assists as a rookie this past season, finished seventh in the Calder voting and was named to the All-Rookie team.
He is a left-shot defenseman.
(more…)