{"id":423944,"date":"2026-01-23T17:30:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/423944\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T17:30:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:30:49","slug":"nhl-trade-rumors-hurricanes-could-make-surprising-name-available","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/423944\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Trade Rumors: Hurricanes Could Make Surprising Name Available"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Carolina<\/a><\/p>\n

If Carolina gets a real shot at landing a true difference maker, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period<\/a> reports the Hurricanes could make highly regarded defenseman Alexander Nikishin available in a package, while also continuing to shop forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi as they explore ways to upgrade before the deadline. <\/p>\n

The Nikishin angle is what makes this rumor feel real<\/p>\n

Nikishin isn\u2019t some throw in name, which is exactly why his availability would only come up in a big game hunt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At just 24-years-old and in his first NHL season, he has six goals and 20 points in 47 games this season with a plus 12 rating, and he\u2019s bringing the heavy work too with 87 hits and 57 blocked shots. That’s the kind of all-around profile teams drool over when they\u2019re looking for a young defender who can play in big minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He popped with a power play goal and an assist in Carolina\u2019s recent 9-1 demolition of the Florida Panthers, and then dropped Chicago Blackhawk’s Oliver Moore in what might have been the quickest fight ever. <\/p>\n

Oliver Moore gets DROPPED by Alexander Nikishin after taking exception to a hit \ud83d\ude35\ud83d\udc4a pic.twitter.com\/gG5U3PUeJZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 23, 2026<\/a>
\nCarolina\u2019s bigger picture includes Kotkaniemi and the blue line rumors<\/p>\n

Pagnotta\u2019s report lines up with a league wide read that Carolina is still probing for impact help, and it lands in the middle of separate chatter connecting the Hurricanes to New Jersey Devils<\/a> defenseman Dougie Hamilton as a \u201cpotential fit,\u201d per Pierre LeBrun\u2019s comments on TSN.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oliver Moore drops the gloves with Alexander Nikishin #Blackhawks<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4wSaVlMIkh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hockey Barn Review (@hockeybarn_) January 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

If Carolina is willing to discuss Nikishin only when a major piece is coming back, it shows they\u2019re aiming higher than a simple depth tweak, and Kotkaniemi being available gives them another movable contract to juggle the math if the right star shakes loose.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carolina obviously wouldn’t send back Nikishin in a Hamilton trade, it would need to be for something much bigger.<\/p>\n

Photo Credit:\u00a0Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images\u00a0<\/p>\n