Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin has received an invitation to participate in the 2025 NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Virginia. The event will take place on September 3 in Arlington, Virginia.
The NHLPA Rookie Showcase, hosted annually by Upper Deck, provides an opportunity for the company to gather photos and videos of the players in their uniforms. These materials are then used for their first official rookie hockey cards and other promotional content throughout the season and beyond.
Nikishin is among 31 rookies from various NHL teams who will be attending the event. Other invitees include Frederic Brunet (BOS), Zeev Buium (MIN), Berkly Catton (SEA), Trevor Connelly (VGK), Ben Danford (TOR), Sam Dickinson (SJS), Karsen Dorwart (PHI), Jordan Dumais (CBJ), Jack Finley (TBL), Marc Gatcomb (NYI), Konsta Helenius (BUF), Quinn Hutson (EDM), Tij Iginla (UTA), Joakim Kemell (NSH), Ryan Leonard (WSH), Oliver Moore (CHI), Jani Nyman (SEA), Zayne Parekh (CGY), Gave Perreault (NYR), Francesco Pinelli (LAK), David Reinbacher (MTL), Axel Sandin-Pellikka (DET), Gracyn Sawchyn (FLA), Matthew Schaefer (NYI), Beckett Sennecke (ANA), Jimmy Snuggerud (STL), Cam Squires (NJD), Matthew Wood (NSH), Brayden Yager (WPG) and Carter Yakemchuk (OTT).
Alexander Alexandrovich Nikishin, born on October 2, 2001, is a Russian professional ice hockey defenseman. The Carolina Hurricanes selected him in the third round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the 69th overall pick. Nikishin made his Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) debut with Spartak Moscow during the 2019–20 season. After three seasons with Spartak Moscow, he was traded to SKA Saint Petersburg. With SKA Saint Petersburg, Nikishin's performance improved, recording 55 points in 65 games during the 2022–23 season.
Nikishin was named team captain for the 2023–24 season and led his team in scoring with 56 points in 67 games. Following SKA Saint Petersburg's first-round loss to Dynamo Moscow in the 2025 Gagarin Cup playoffs, Nikishin had his KHL contract terminated on April 11, 2025. That same day, he agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes and joined the team for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.
Nikishin is considered a Calder Trophy hopeful. He joined the Hurricanes after the end of the KHL season last year and played in four playoff games, recording one point. His transition to the NHL has been aided by the tutelage he has received from the team's high-profile stars. Nikishin's impressive KHL performance, where he posted 17 goals and 46 points in 61 games for SKA St. Petersburg in 2024-25, has generated considerable excitement around his potential impact on the Hurricanes' blue line.
