“We always expect the other team to bring their best,” Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes said ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference second round against the Caps. With the top seed of the division being 1-3 down in the best-of-seven-game series, the Canes expected nothing but a hard fight as they took to the ice at the Capital One Arena. However, the advantage also gives the Canes the confidence to experiment with the lineup a bit. Enter: Alexander Nikishin.
The Carolina team drafted the 23-year-old Russian defenseman as a third-round pick in 2020. With Jalen Chatfield out of the lineup ahead of today’s game, the Canes faced a blue line crisis. However, it looks like Chatfield’s undisclosed injury has opened up a golden opportunity for Alexander Nikishin.
The official NHL News account took to X on May 15 to reveal the latest Canes debutant. “Alexander Nikishin will make his NHL debut tonight for #Canes in Game 5,” the social media post noted. During the morning workouts, Nikishin was spotted taking the customary solo lap, which is mandatory for anyone making their debut in the league.
The 6-foot-4, 216-pounder has earned quite a reputation for himself over the years. An incredibly popular hockey star in his native country, Nikishin has often been hailed as “the best defenseman outside the NHL.” In his final season for the SKA St. Petersburg in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, the 2020 3rd round pick (No.69), who was also the team’s captain, posted 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) in 61 regular-season games. He finished his KHL career as St. Petersburg’s all-time highest-scoring defenseman with 177 points.
Alexander Nikishin will make his NHL debut tonight for #Canes in Game 5. #RaiseUp
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) May 15, 2025
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The post Who Is Alexander Nikishin? 23-Year-Old Set to Make His NHL Debut for the Carolina Hurricanes Straight in the Playoffs appeared first on EssentiallySports.
