Hurricanes GM Confirms Top Prospect Expected To Sign This Spring

Carolina Hurricanes fans have been awaiting the arrival of top prospect Alexander Nikishin for years now.

However, that wait is finally almost over.

The 23-year-old blueliner's contract with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL is set to expire this season and according to Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky who spoke briefly on the matter Thursday night, the team expects to bring him into the fold following its conclusion.

"He's under contract with his KHL club this year," Tulsky said. "That contract will end when their season ends and we expect to be able to sign him when that happens."

Related: Alexander Nikishin Wins Multiple KHL Awards

The KHL regular season ends in late March and so depending on how SKA does in the postseason, Nikishin could arrive sometime in April.

There's no guarantee that the 2020 third-round pick would slot in and play this season, but there are those in the organization that believe he could play in a top-four role in the NHL today.

The Russian blueliner holds the record for the most points in a season by a Russian-born defenseman in KHL history (56), having broken his own record set two years prior.

He is also SKA's all-time highest scoring defenseman and current captain.

The defenseman is arguably one of the best players in the world outside the NHL who's just an elite package of IQ, size and skill.

He can play in any situation and at 6-foot-4, 215lb, he certainly knows how to use his body too.

If he doesn't get the chance to play this season, he's almost guaranteed to be penciled into the top-four the following one with two spots opening up as Dmitry Orlov and Brent Burns' contracts are set to expire.