NHL Draft Mastery: Major Insights into the Carolina Hurricanes’ Winning Strategy

Hurricanes Defenseman Shines in KHL

The Carolina Hurricanes have set a high bar for player development, with one of their standout prospects currently thriving in Russia’s KHL.

Carolina is known for its excellent draft strategy, regularly selecting and developing players who become impactful NHL talents. The success of their scouting is evident every night as their lineup features many players they’ve drafted, developed, and nurtured into top-tier hockey performers.

Beyond the NHL, the Hurricanes have a number of promising players who are expected to contribute to the team in the near future. One of the most exciting of these prospects is defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who was selected by Carolina in the third round of the 2020 draft. In hindsight, he might have deserved a first-round pick.

Now 23 years old, Nikishin is enjoying a standout career in the KHL, playing for SKA St. Petersburg. Over the past few seasons, he has established himself as one of the top defenders in the league outside of the NHL. Two seasons ago, he tallied 11 goals and 55 points in 65 games. Last year, as SKA’s captain, he followed that up with an even more impressive performance, registering 17 goals and 56 points in 67 games.

This season, Nikishin has taken on an expanded role, especially in the defensive zone, while still managing to produce strong offensive numbers. Speaking to Daria Tuboltseva of RG.org, he reflected on his development and the added responsibility he’s taken on this year.

“In my first season with SKA, I scored a lot of points, in the second season as well, and now the third is underway. I have to push through it,” said Nikishin. “Just chasing points isn’t the answer—it would only work to my detriment. I try to help the team defensively, and, when possible, offensively. I’m not obsessed with points. It is what it is.”

Despite focusing more on defense this season, Nikishin has continued to find ways to contribute offensively. Through the first 28 games of the season, he has accumulated six goals and nine assists. The arrival of former Hurricanes defenseman Tony DeAngelo has also helped Nikishin round out his game, as he no longer feels the pressure to score like a forward. His all-around development has caught the attention of the Hurricanes, who are eager to bring him to North America as soon as possible.