Not on an NHL roster · Defense · Shoots L
Alexander Nikishin
Age 25 · 6'3" · 218 lb · Born in Orel, RUS
No contract on file.
2025-26 regular season
GP
81
Goals
11
9.0% shooting
Assists
22
12 primary
Points
33
0.41 per game
TOI/GP
18:11
PP 1:26 · PK 1:05
xGF%
55.6
5v5
Game Score
+0.09
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+18
Blocks 94 · Hits 132
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 14 @ VGK · W 3-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11:40 | 1:27 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.15 |
| Jun 11 vs VGK · W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14:01 | 3:05 | 1:02 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.15 |
| Jun 9 @ VGK · W 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10:13 | 1:29 | 0:53 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | +1 | -0.06 |
| Jun 6 @ VGK · OTL 5-4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 19:16 | 1:11 | 0:03 | — | 100 | 2 | 0 | -2 | -0.16 |
| Jun 4 vs VGK · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16:18 | 2:12 | 0:04 | — | 67 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.13 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,205 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
88th percentile
36th percentile
84th percentile
97th percentile
32nd percentile
94th percentile
83rd percentile
96th percentile
94th percentile
86th percentile
94th percentile
33rd percentile
58th percentile
97th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleOffensive rush defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Nikishin is an aggressive, puck-moving defender who excels at creating chances off the rush and generating offensive volume from distance. His defensive impact lags well behind his offensive contributions, making him best suited for sheltered minutes in favorable matchups.
- Shooting volume
- 87
- Playmaking
- 78
- Zone entries(est.)
- 91
- Forechecking
- 90
- Physicality
- 74
- Defensive impact
- 23
- Puck management
- 37
- Speed
- 78
Where he shoots from
Slot 7% · Mid-range 25% · Perimeter 68%(195 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite at generating rush chances (91st percentile zone entries)
- Prolific shot volume from range (87th percentile shooting)
- Strong pace and playmaking ability (78th percentile speed and playmaking)
Watch-outs
- Defensive impact well below average (23rd percentile) limits utility
- Puck management needs work (37th percentile), turnovers concern
- Most shots come from perimeter (68%), limiting high-danger looks
Similar style: Darnell Nurse (SJS), Nikita Zadorov (BOS)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 81 GP · goals above average
Season total +7.3 goals, or +0.09 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +2.2
- Even strength defense
- +0.3
- Power play
- +0.2
- Penalty kill
- +0.6
- Finishing
- +3.8
- Playmaking
- +1.1
- Penalties
- -0.9
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | CAR | 81 | 11 | 22 | 33 | +18 | 122 | 18:11 | — | +0.09 |
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Age curve
How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.4 mph
- 78th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 65
- Hardest shot
- 99.4 mph
- 95th pct
- Distance
- 216.0 mi
- OZ time
- 47.3%
- 98th pct
- DZ time
- 34.8%