Well, this has certainly been an offseason, hasn't it? We've seen just about everything, and the St. Louis Blues kept themselves involved in free agency. With the dust settling around the league and the only major order of business at present a resolution to the Leo Carlsson offer sheet bombshell between the Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks, it's been mostly rumors over the Independence Day weekend.
One rumor, per Elliotte Friedman, relates to the Blues: they are apparently in on restricted free agent left-shot defenseman Alexander Nikishin, of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Nikishin is not eligible for an offer sheet, so the only way for another team to acquire him is via trade with the Hurricanes. Reports are that Nikishin is asking for a contract extension somewhere in the $8-million annual average value (AAV) range.
The 2025-26 season was Nikishin's rookie year with Carolina, and he played 81 games and averaged 18:11 of ice time. He tallied 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in the regular season, though he fell off a bit during the Canes' run to the Stanley Cup. In the playoffs, he scored only one point (an assist) and was down to just 14:50 of ice time. He's an outstanding young defenseman who would solidify a strong top-four for the Blues for years to come.
The acquisition price, however, would likely be high. Defensemen of Nikishin's caliber (and age) don't become available very often, and the Blues will have to pay up to get a deal done. Carolina is firmly in their contention window, so they'll likely want cost-controlled, roster-ready players; the Blues have a couple of those, but none might move the needle enough to sway the Canes.
We'll see where things go--this offseason has already proven to be full of surprises.
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