Blues rumored to be a frontrunner for this defenseman

The 2026-27 NHL season is underway, though the St. Louis Blues don't play their first game until tomorrow. Before the puck's even dropped, the Blues are dealing with an unbelievable rash of injuries on their blue line. Logan Mailloux will miss eight weeks as he recovers from hand surgery, and Tyler Tucker will be reevaluated in six weeks; in the interim, Adam Jiricek's been recalled from the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL, and Justin Barron was claimed on waivers from the Nashville Predators. Not an ideal start to the season!

One way to give the defense some help--now and into the future--is to trade for a young defenseman with top-four upside. Not an easy ask, but luckily, there happens to be one on the market--and Elliotte Friedman thinks they're the front-runner.

Who is Alex Nikishin?

The Blues have been rumored to be in on Alexander Nikishin as far back as the start of free agency, when the player let the Carolina Hurricanes know he was interested in a change of scenery. That smoke has continued, and adding Nikishin makes even more sense now that the Blues are dealing with so many injuries on the blue line.

Nikishin played 81 games during his rookie season with the Canes, and the 24-year-old tallied 11 goals and 33 points, and 18:11 of ice time each night. Oh yeah, and he won the Stanley Cup. Not bad for a first season in North America! The problem, though, is that Nikishin saw his ice time diminish significantly in the playoffs--only 14:50 a night.

A diminishing role and no clear spot on the roster outside the third pair have played a major part in the trade request. If you're wondering why Nikishin hasn't just signed an offer sheet instead, it's because he doesn't meet the eligibility requirements; it has to be a trade.

How Nikishin would fit on the Blues

The Blues' defense group was one of their biggest pain points heading into the season, and now it's looking even more precarious due to the injuries. Nikishin, a left shot who can play either side, would easily slot into the top four, taking some of the load away from young defenseman Theo Lindstein and a struggling Cam Fowler. The team could use some offense from their backend, and Nikishin's 33 points as a rookie is a promising sign. Nikishin's on the younger side, too, so he'd be right in line with the next wave of Blues players as the team goes through its transitionary period.

It's a perfect fit, but there are complications. First is the trade return: the Canes want major assets back, and there are rumors that a three-team trade might be the path forward. The Blues have a ton of prospects but, in terms of roster players, the trade would probably be built around Dalibor Dvorsky and/or Jimmy Snuggerud, if trading directly with Carolina. Nikishin would provide a huge boost to the Blues, but it won't come cheap--nor will the contract.

A contract with an AAV north of $9 million would immediately make Nikishin the highest-paid player on the Blues. That's a lot of money for a player with only one pro season in North America under his belt, especially when you consider the "Carolina factor," where players tend to look better in their systems than away from it (think Brady Skjei). That cap hit is the new reality after the Philadelphia Flyers blew up the league's cap structure with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet.

Despite the risks (the acquisition cost, the contract), this is a move the Blues should make if they have the opportunity to do so. Talented, young defensemen with a high ceiling don't become available all that often. If the Blues want to be competitive in the short and long term, adding Nikishin would be a major step in the right direction.

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