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Boom! Signed!

So with a 2 yr deal does this mean that if he plays 1 regular season game this season he’s an RFA after next season? Do I have that right?
 
The deal kicks in as soon as he reports, so yeah ... it gets him to RFA after one year. Presumably that was a part of negotiations like it was with the college trio last spring.
 
Tulsky says they hope to have his visa wrapped up Monday/Tuesday and they’re also getting a Canadian visa so he can play in the games in Montreal and Ottawa next week, to get him at least 1 game before the playoffs start. And he might need the Canadian visa sooner rather than later anyway, with a potential 2nd round matchup with Montreal.

www.nhl.com

The Nikishin Deal: 1-on-1 with Eric Tulsky | Carolina Hurricanes

"I think he is a natural fit who will play his best and look his best playing for us."
www.nhl.com www.nhl.com
 
Me either, in fact I'm certain that I've read that he'd be an RFA at expiration of his ELC the same way Kaprisov was. The CBA hasn't changed since then, but ... I won't pretend to be certain on any of that stuff. FWIW, CapWages has him as an RFA in 2026.
 
Contract talk starts at 3:20 in the video. So yeah, according to Tulsky, Nikishin will be an RFA at the end of this contract and will not be eligible for an offer sheet from another team at that time.
 
Snipping from the CBA available on NHLPA.com

10.1 Unrestricted Free Agents.

(a) Group 3 Players and Free Agents.

(i) Any Player who either has seven (7) Accrued Seasons or is 27 years of age
or older as of June 30 of the end of a League Year, shall, if his most recent
SPC has expired, with such expiry occurring either as of June 30 of such
League Year or June 30 of any prior League Year, become an Unrestricted
Free Agent. Such Player shall be completely free to negotiate and sign an
SPC with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and
sign an SPC with such Player, without penalty or restriction, or being
subject to any Right of First Refusal, Draft Choice Compensation or any
other compensation or equalization obligation of any kind.

Nikishin would be eligible to be an NHL UFA after the 2028-29 season.

After Nikishin's entry level deal ends in 25-26....

July 2026 - Not a free agent (10.2.C status). No Arbitration rights and not offer sheet eligible. A player signing an entry level deal at 22 or 23 has to have 2 years professional experience to get to Group 2 free agency. You need to have played 10 or more Professional games while under contract to accrue a year of professional experience. Assuming Nikishin burns year 1 next week, he will fall short of the 10 games necessary. This will leave him in this 'not a free agent' window where he has no leverage other than not playing.

July 2027 - Group 2 RFA Arbitration rights (offer sheet eligible)
July 2028 - Group 2 RFA Arbitration rights (offer sheet eligible)
July 2029 - UFA

Of course the Canes would most likely try to lock Nikishin into a long term deal well through those Group 2 RFA and early UFA years.
 
Last edited:
cmaleski2 said:
Snipping from the CBA available on NHLPA.com

10.1 Unrestricted Free Agents.

(a) Group 3 Players and Free Agents.

(i) Any Player who either has seven (7) Accrued Seasons or is 27 years of age
or older as of June 30 of the end of a League Year, shall, if his most recent
SPC has expired, with such expiry occurring either as of June 30 of such
League Year or June 30 of any prior League Year, become an Unrestricted
Free Agent. Such Player shall be completely free to negotiate and sign an
SPC with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and
sign an SPC with such Player, without penalty or restriction, or being
subject to any Right of First Refusal, Draft Choice Compensation or any
other compensation or equalization obligation of any kind.

Nikishin would be eligible to be an NHL UFA after the 2028-29 season.

After Nikishin's entry level deal ends in 25-26....

July 2026 - Not a free agent (10.2.C status). No Arbitration rights and not offer sheet eligible. A player signing an entry level deal at 22 or 23 has to have 2 years professional experience to get to Group 2 free agency. You need to have played 10 or more Professional games while under contract to accrue a year of professional experience. Assuming Nikishin burns year 1 next week, he will fall short of the 10 games necessary. This will leave him in this 'not a free agent' window where he has no leverage other than not playing.

July 2027 - Group 2 RFA Arbitration rights (offer sheet eligible)
July 2028 - Group 2 RFA Arbitration rights (offer sheet eligible)
July 2029 - UFA

Of course the Canes would most likely try to lock Nikishin into a long term deal well through those Group 2 RFA and early UFA years.
Click to expand...
Long term lockup Tulsky!!! You know some teams would be lining up the offer sheets if he storms the NHL anywhere close to the hype so far!
 
CanadaCanes said:
Long term lockup Tulsky!!! You know some teams would be lining up the offer sheets if he storms the NHL anywhere close to the hype so far!
Click to expand...
I'm sure getting him locked up is a priority for the Canes, but let's not get too far ahead of that curve just yet. That can't happen for a while and I really don't want to go straight from "will he sign this season" watch to "when is he going to get an extension" watch.

Also, remember that we'd be skipping "when will Rod ever play him" watch.
 
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