Top defensive prospect Alexander Nikishin seems to be well on his way to joining the Carolina Hurricanes as he was just released from his KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg.

His contract was set to expire on May 31, but the mutually agreed termination will allow him to make his way to North America immediately once a visa and contract with Carolina is squared away.

Nikishin, 23, is regarded as one of the best players outside of the NHL.

A rare combination of size (6-foot-4, 220lbs) and skill (consistent top scoring KHL defenseman), Nikishin plays in all situations and can burn you with his abilities or his physicality. 

The former SKA captain is the KHL's all-time record holder for the most single season points by a Russian-born blueliner (56), a record which he set twice in back-to-back years.

The 6-foot-4 blueliner is also SKA's all-time leader in points by a defenseman, finishing his KHL career with 157 in 193 games.

The 2020 third-round pick (acquired from Buffalo in exchange for Jeff Skinner) looks to be a true diamond in the rough game-changer if he can carry over his game to the NHL level.

There's still the matter of an NHL deal, although it was reported by Russian reporter Artur Khairullin that it will be a two-year ELC that starts this season, as well as acquiring a visa for the Russian blueliner, but perhaps he'll be able to make it in time to play in a few regular season games.

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