Don't know about Evgeny Kuznetsov, but Alexander Nikishin's officially come from the KHL to the NHL

Only a day back, news was out that Evgeny Kuznetsov had left the KHL . We just don’t know left for the NHL or not. But the speculations are already out. About Evgeny Kuznetsov’s next NHL team. Will it be the Philadelphia Flyers ? As anticipated by Broad Street Hockey? Broad Street Hockey wrote on their official X account, “Evgeny Kuznetsov is now a free agent after having his KHL contract terminated. Could he be a low-cost option for the Flyers to fix their center depth?” on April 10, 2025.

Evgeny Kuznetsov is now a free agent after having his KHL contract terminated. Could he be a low-cost option for the Flyers to fix their center depth?https://t.co/QP1wM8VY5l

— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) April 10, 2025

Eric Tulsky, the GM of Carolina Hurricanes , says, “We are grateful for Alexander’s time with SKA Saint Petersburg ,”

BRINGING THE BOOM TO RALEIGH!!!

The #Canes have signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a two-year, entry-level contract 💪

Details » https://t.co/JRuEVBIma9 pic.twitter.com/MJTh3qR30l

— x - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 11, 2025

Before 'Evgeny Kuznetsov-Philadelphia Flyers' situation could culminate into reality, we heard about someone else! Coming from the same books (SKA Saint Petersburg) of the KHL. And officially entering the NHL! We are talking about, like our headline just said, yes Alexander Nikishin .

The Carolina Hurricanes are looking smart at 46 wins, 27 losses, and 5 overtime losses, but they need someone. And they have just got that someone! Alexander Nikishin ! The official X account of the Carolina Hurricanes just posted, “BRINGING THE BOOM TO RALEIGH!!! The #Canes have signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a two-year, entry-level contract 💪”

Eric Tulsky talks about having Alexander Nikishin in the NHL from the KHL with NHL.com, “We are grateful for Alexander’s time with SKA Saint Petersburg, a premier European hockey franchise, which helped him develop into one of the top prospects in hockey. His size and skill have allowed him to have a record-breaking career in the KHL, and we believe he will be an impactful player in the NHL.”


Carolina Hurricanes did not select their former NHL player Evgeny Kuznetsov from the KHL but instead went for SKA Saint Petersburg’s Alexander Nikishin

KHL's top-scoring defenseman's doing his thing.

Goal No 17 for Alexander Nikishin! pic.twitter.com/OxWKTvjQwF

— KHL (@khl_eng) March 8, 2025

Now, this one’s a shocker. Isn’t it? When Evgeny Kuznetsov mutually left the NHL(Carolina Hurricanes) to enter the KHL. The Hurricanes let him. And, now, when 32 YO Evgeny Kuznetsov parted ways with the SKA Saint Petersburg, the Hurricanes did not go for him. Instead, chose another SKA Saint Petersburg player/another KHL player, Alexander Nikishin.

Talking about our prime topic - Alexander Nikishin. Playing for SKA Saint Petersburg, Alexander Nikishin accumulated 177 points and 166 penalty minutes in 288 regular season games as their defenseman. In the postseason, Nikishin accumulated 15 points in 35 contests. Alexander Nikishin enters the NHL through the Carolina Hurricanes team. The NHL team and Nikishin have agreed on a two-year entry-level contract with a pay grade of $832,500 for both the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 NHL seasons and a signing bonus of $185,000.


Also Read: Evgeny Kuznetsov left the NHL for KHL and now leaves KHL for the NHL? | NHL News - The Times of India