Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour says there is no “set-in-stone” plan for inserting Alexander Nikishin into the lineup as Carolina’s Stanley Cup playoff series with New Jersey begins Sunday.

As we draw another day closer to opening night for the NHL, there has been a ton of talk surrounding the Carolina Hurricanes.

Defenseman Alexander Nikishin has a few laughs with his new Carolina Hurricanes teammates after his first practice with the team at Lenovo Center Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Alexander Nikishin and Logan Stankoven were jostling in front of the net at the Carolina Hurricanes practice Monday and it was quite the sight. The contrast: Nikishin is 6 feet 4 and 220 pounds ...

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, right, serves as interpreter for defenseman Alexander Nikishin after practice Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Lenovo Center.

Carolina Hurricanes rookie Alexander Nikishin has made a quick impact during the Stanley Cup playoffs, earning the nickname ‘Niki’ and impressing in a must-win game vs. Florida Panthers.

According to Nikishin’s agent, Alexander Chernykh, all of the blame can be placed on the Hurricanes’ shoulders. “Because Carolina is one of the most difficult teams in terms of management ...

Carolina had the league’s seventh-worst shooting percentage last year, at 9.2 percent. The year before, the Hurricanes ranked 15th at 10.1 percent.

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, right, serves as interpreter for defenseman Alexander Nikishin after practice Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Lenovo Center.

Nikishin was drafted 69th overall by the Hurricanes at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft on Wednesday. Carolina clearly relied on their local Russian scouts to get a good read on Nikishin. He spent ...