NHL Rumor Roundup: Alexander Nikishin Still Awaits A Trade, Shane Wright Remains With The Kraken

Sep 21, 2026 2:57 PMPublished Sep 21, 2026 2:57 PM

Alexander Nikishin remains a fixture in the NHL rumor mill, especially since it was revealed last week that the 24-year-old Carolina Hurricanes defenseman requested a trade during the off-season.

A restricted free agent, Nikishin remains absent from training camp, awaiting his fate. Hurricanes management isn’t commenting on his status, adding fuel to the conjecture.

The Hurricanes are rumored to be a potential suitor for Connor Hellebuyck. The Winnipeg Jets goaltender has been suspended without pay by the Jets as he holds out, waiting for his own trade request to be honored.

If the Hurricanes pursue Hellebuyck, Nikishin could be part of their pitch. However, the Jets could prefer a sign-and-trade scenario to ensure the young blueliner would want to play for them.

William James of Philly Hockey Now mused over whether Nikishin would be a good fit with the Flyers.

TSN's Darren Dreger reported last week that Flyers general manager Daniel Briere isn’t done "big-game hunting" after the Anaheim Ducks matched his offer sheet to Leo Carlsson in July. Dreger claimed the Flyers still seek "a star forward or a star defenseman."

Nikishin isn't a star defenseman but has potential. He's coming off a promising rookie campaign, scoring 11 goals and 33 points in 81 regular-season games.

James believes Nikishin's skating still needs work, but his versatility, size, and offensive abilities could make him a good addition to the Flyers. The potential downside is the cost of his next contract, given his limited NHL experience.

Speaking of young trade candidates, Shane Wright and the Seattle Kraken seemed destined to part ways after his agent told the media in July that they were looking for trade opportunities.

Fast-forward to September, and Wright remains with the Kraken as they prepare for the upcoming regular season.

Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times believes the Kraken may have set a high price for Wright. However, the 22-year-old center's spotty NHL record drew few suitors.

Shefte noted that Wright saw bottom-six minutes and had limited responsibilities last season. Nevertheless, Kraken GM Jason Botterill said the club wants to help the young center become a better NHL player.

Improving Wright's performance would make him a more enticing trade chip, but it could also make him more valuable to the low-scoring Kraken.