Blues rumored pursuing Nikishin

[TBone]

Here's an interesting website which list multiple analytics on players.

I'd be curious if anyone up on analytics could interpret what they reveal about Nikishin's game.

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/player ... id=8482100

[STL fan in MN]

Blues should check in what it would take to acquire NIkishin if he is being shopped. He clearly would be an upgrade to the D and is in the age range the Blues are trying to improve within. Of course it would depend on what the Hurricanes want back and what contract Nikishin is looking for.

He’s reportedly looking for 8 yrs x $8M.

After 1 season where he scored 33 pts as Carolina’s #5 d-man averaging 18 min/game in the regular season and then having his ice time cut to under 15 min/game in the playoffs, he wants a huge raise.

Any team that hands out $6 mill to Ross Freakin Johnston should have no problem paying that to Nikishin.

Did you just equivocate a 3 year, $6M commitment to an 8 year, $64M commitment?

Also, I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the term of the Johnston deal either. 3 years is a bit much IMO. But the commitment is paltry compared to what Nikishin wants after 1 season. And then add in the acquisition cost to get Nikishin? And maybe have to take on Kotkaniemi‘s albatross contract as well and it becomes a pretty easy no from me.

I think Nikishin has the potential to be good but there’s very little actual proof he is or will be good. Certainly not enough for me to pay what it would take to acquire him and pay that much monetarily as well.

[zamadoo]

Blues should check in what it would take to acquire NIkishin if he is being shopped. He clearly would be an upgrade to the D and is in the age range the Blues are trying to improve within. Of course it would depend on what the Hurricanes want back and what contract Nikishin is looking for.

He’s reportedly looking for 8 yrs x $8M.

After 1 season where he scored 33 pts as Carolina’s #5 d-man averaging 18 min/game in the regular season and then having his ice time cut to under 15 min/game in the playoffs, he wants a huge raise.

Any team that hands out $6 mill to Ross Freakin Johnston should have no problem paying that to Nikishin.

Did you just equivocate a 3 year, $6M commitment to an 8 year, $64M commitment?

Also, I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the term of the Johnston deal either. 3 years is a bit much IMO. But the commitment is paltry compared to what Nikishin wants after 1 season. And then add in the acquisition cost to get Nikishin? And maybe have to take on Kotkaniemi‘s albatross contract as well and it becomes a pretty easy no from me.

I think Nikishin has the potential to be good but there’s very little actual proof he is or will be good. Certainly not enough for me to pay what it would take to acquire him and pay that much monetarily as well.

Yeah even without Kotkaniemi, I see a player with one assist in 17 playoff games on the Cup winning team asking for the moon and being used by that team (who is positioned for sustained success) as a tool to move a failed project, and I have too many questions without any answers.

I'm also at a point where I mostly trust Blues brass, so if they expressed interest then I believe he's a good player. It seemed like people were hyping him, and he's got great KHL numbers and a massive frame, so I really just want to know what his ceiling is and what his overall game is. If he's Victor Hedman, then it could be worth the cost.

[TheJackBurton]

Evidently the rumor is that if you want Nikishin you are taking Kotkaniemi as well, so it isn't just an 8 million dollar investment plus whatever you trade, you are also getting a center who has way underperformed for his career, not making a large amount, but only produced 9 point in 42 games last year.

So it's assets, have to re-sign Nikishin, and take on a player that is very likely a buyout candidate or is headed for waivers if he can't have a somewhat productive season.

Now the one positive thing is tacking on Kotkaniemi lowers the asking price as he is a massively negative asset. Man what an absolute failure as a revenge tactic for Montreal going after Aho.

[HighStick]

Where is Nikishin supposed to fit in? I've seen some of you have him as a 5/6 D man. Do we really need to wheel and deal for a 3rd pairing LD? Don't they have a surplus of that in the A? I'd use the money more for a position of need like RW.

[skilles]

Where is Nikishin supposed to fit in? I've seen some of you have him as a 5/6 D man. Do we really need to wheel and deal for a 3rd pairing LD? Don't they have a surplus of that in the A? I'd use the money more for a position of need like RW.

I would think its a long term thought process and Fowler is who he would replace, could sure up the D for a very long time.

I do agree though that RW is more urgent

[zamadoo]

Where is Nikishin supposed to fit in? I've seen some of you have him as a 5/6 D man. Do we really need to wheel and deal for a 3rd pairing LD? Don't they have a surplus of that in the A? I'd use the money more for a position of need like RW.

I would think its a long term thought process and Fowler is who he would replace, could sure up the D for a very long time.

I do agree though that RW is more urgent

I wonder if Fowler and CAR would be a match? He stated he wanted to win when he approved to come here. Then we sucked. He's cheap. He's also part of the Duck wave, which has become like the wave from Dallas, so maybe he's more wanted here.

[Army's Mom]

Where is Nikishin supposed to fit in? I've seen some of you have him as a 5/6 D man. Do we really need to wheel and deal for a 3rd pairing LD? Don't they have a surplus of that in the A? I'd use the money more for a position of need like RW.

I would think its a long term thought process and Fowler is who he would replace, could sure up the D for a very long time.

I do agree though that RW is more urgent

I wonder if Fowler and CAR would be a match? He stated he wanted to win when he approved to come here. Then we sucked. He's cheap. He's also part of the Duck wave, which has become like the wave from Dallas, so maybe he's more wanted here.

Then we're stifling Lindstein as 3LD, putting too much cap on the left side (when we have cheaper options developing), and using up tradable assets without addressing deeper needs at RW.

I dont understand the interest here unless its a smokescreen ir Lindstein is part of the trade. And that would waste cheap depth...

Not to mention Kotkaniemi's remaining 4 years and almost 20M. Waste.

[son_of_foolsgold]

Where is Nikishin supposed to fit in? I've seen some of you have him as a 5/6 D man. Do we really need to wheel and deal for a 3rd pairing LD? Don't they have a surplus of that in the A? I'd use the money more for a position of need like RW.

I would think its a long term thought process and Fowler is who he would replace, could sure up the D for a very long time.

I do agree though that RW is more urgent

I wonder if Fowler and CAR would be a match? He stated he wanted to win when he approved to come here. Then we sucked. He's cheap. He's also part of the Duck wave, which has become like the wave from Dallas, so maybe he's more wanted here.

But you see we sucked in good part because he sucked. You cannot separate the two. Would be fabulous if Carolina would take him.

[skilles]

Where is Nikishin supposed to fit in? I've seen some of you have him as a 5/6 D man. Do we really need to wheel and deal for a 3rd pairing LD? Don't they have a surplus of that in the A? I'd use the money more for a position of need like RW.

I would think its a long term thought process and Fowler is who he would replace, could sure up the D for a very long time.

I do agree though that RW is more urgent

I wonder if Fowler and CAR would be a match? He stated he wanted to win when he approved to come here. Then we sucked. He's cheap. He's also part of the Duck wave, which has become like the wave from Dallas, so maybe he's more wanted here.

I don't think they would want fowler, they just don't need LD

[zamadoo]

Where is Nikishin supposed to fit in? I've seen some of you have him as a 5/6 D man. Do we really need to wheel and deal for a 3rd pairing LD? Don't they have a surplus of that in the A? I'd use the money more for a position of need like RW.

I would think its a long term thought process and Fowler is who he would replace, could sure up the D for a very long time.

I do agree though that RW is more urgent

I wonder if Fowler and CAR would be a match? He stated he wanted to win when he approved to come here. Then we sucked. He's cheap. He's also part of the Duck wave, which has become like the wave from Dallas, so maybe he's more wanted here.

I don't think they would want fowler, they just don't need LD

What do we have that they would want? Picks? Guys like Stancl and Pekarcik? Do the Blues still have interest even with the Kotkaniemi tag? A wild and unpopular thought is that they like Nikishin so much that they will trade Dvorsky for him and then try to make Kotkaniemi a middle-6 player.

[UMR-alum-05]

Where is Nikishin supposed to fit in? I've seen some of you have him as a 5/6 D man. Do we really need to wheel and deal for a 3rd pairing LD? Don't they have a surplus of that in the A? I'd use the money more for a position of need like RW.

I would think its a long term thought process and Fowler is who he would replace, could sure up the D for a very long time.

I do agree though that RW is more urgent

I wonder if Fowler and CAR would be a match? He stated he wanted to win when he approved to come here. Then we sucked. He's cheap. He's also part of the Duck wave, which has become like the wave from Dallas, so maybe he's more wanted here.

I don't think they would want fowler, they just don't need LD

What do we have that they would want? Picks? Guys like Stancl and Pekarcik? Do the Blues still have interest even with the Kotkaniemi tag? A wild and unpopular thought is that they like Nikishin so much that they will trade Dvorsky for him and then try to make Kotkaniemi a middle-6 player.

Can't fit them both under the cap I laid it out earlier.

Blues have 10.2MM in cap. With the Krug LTIR that could be 16.7MM.

Kotkaniemi makes 4.8MM. Nikishin reportedly wants 8MM. McMichael is looking at 6-7MM.

Some type of salary has to go back to Carolina if the Blues are serious about doing this. This would also cause the Blues problems in the future with getting Snuggurud, Mailloux and Dvorsky signed.

Blues don't want or need Kotkaniemi.

[skilles]

Where is Nikishin supposed to fit in? I've seen some of you have him as a 5/6 D man. Do we really need to wheel and deal for a 3rd pairing LD? Don't they have a surplus of that in the A? I'd use the money more for a position of need like RW.

I would think its a long term thought process and Fowler is who he would replace, could sure up the D for a very long time.

I do agree though that RW is more urgent

I wonder if Fowler and CAR would be a match? He stated he wanted to win when he approved to come here. Then we sucked. He's cheap. He's also part of the Duck wave, which has become like the wave from Dallas, so maybe he's more wanted here.

I don't think they would want fowler, they just don't need LD

What do we have that they would want? Picks? Guys like Stancl and Pekarcik? Do the Blues still have interest even with the Kotkaniemi tag? A wild and unpopular thought is that they like Nikishin so much that they will trade Dvorsky for him and then try to make Kotkaniemi a middle-6 player.

Kotkaniemi is A deal breaker for me, spend the assets at RW if we are gonna make a move.

[UMR-alum-05]

Blues simply don't want or need Kotkaniemi at 4.8MM for the next four years. We have too many other contracts coming due to swallow that mistake for Carolina. They can choke on that one.

Also we don't need Nikishin we need a darn RWer

[HighStick]

What's wrong with Kotkaneimi? His stats aren't great but they got guys like that on the Blues. Why's this guy an outcast that nobody wants?

[UMR-alum-05]

There's a rumor on St Louis Blues Reddit that the Hurricanes told us they want Neighbours and a 1st for Nikishin and Kotkaniemi.

Boy I'd have to think long and hard about that one.

I guess if the Blues think Nikishin is the real deal it makes sense.