Defender SKA Nikita Zaitsev In an interview with , he said that his teammate Alexandra Nikishina that the NHL draft selected “Caroline “, a bright future awaits us both in Russian hockey and abroad.
Nikishin was selected by Carolina in the 2020 NHL Draft in the third round with the No. 69 overall pick. Over the past two seasons, the 22-year-old defenseman has scored 120 points (33 goals + 87 assists) in 153 KHL regular season and playoff games. Nikishin’s contract with the St. Petersburg club runs through the end of next season.
— It is quite possible that in St. Petersburg you will be paired with Alexander Nikishin, the best defender in the league.
— Sasha and I have already managed to play together. A very good guy – both as a person and as a hockey player. A nice and well-mannered guy. It will be very interesting to play with him on the same team.
— Could Nikishin make a splash in the NHL?
– He is already a ready-made player for the overseas league, and I can say that with certainty. If Alexander gets there, it will not be difficult for him to play there at a high level. Moreover, he was drafted by an excellent team – Carolina. It is great that SKA has such great masters.
– When did you play together?
– Yes, last Friday we tried double-sided. They went out together as a couple. I have never seen Nikishin on the ice in my life. But now I rode with him, talked in the gym – we go together to the same general fitness trainer. Sasha is a very great player in every sense of the word. Everything is in his hands, how he will use his talent and skills further, how he will progress, “Zaitsev told .
On Thursday, SKA announced the signing of a four-year contract with Zaitsev. During the 2023/24 season, the hockey player played 38 games with Chicago in the National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, scoring two goals and providing five assists. Previously, Zaitsev played in the NHL for Toronto and Ottawa, and in Russia he played for Sibir and CSKA.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
