Path to stardom: Alexander Nikishin
KHL.ru continues telling stories of those who showcased an exceptional level of playing despite their young age. SKA’s Alexander Nikishin has an incredible deal of experience at just 23, representing Russia at the Olympic Games level, skating in more than 250 KHL games, and winning several awards.
Born on Oct 2, 2001, in Oryol, a city in Central Russia, Alexander Nikishin has quickly become a prominent figure in the league and beyond. His journey began in the Moscow Region, where he first played for Atlant before moving on to the CSKA system. His size and puck-moving abilities provided a significant advantage in the JHL, where he started displaying flashes of brilliance.
“When I was six years old, I was already playing defense. I’m calm, which is one of the important qualities for a defenseman. I approach the game with composure. You show what you can do, but when you’re nervous, you simply can’t play your best hockey. I try not to think about upcoming games in advance; it only starts for me when the first shift hits the ice. Then I immediately immerse myself in the atmosphere, achieving maximum concentration.”
Alexander Nikishin
In his early days in the JHL, Nikishin was marked by confidence and a strong desire to maintain possession in the offensive zone. He was not hesitant to step up and take shots, often skating into a slap shot whenever the opportunity arose. His performance in the JHL quickly attracted attention, leading to his invitation to the Russian U16 national team in 2017-2018.
After a year with Krylya Sovetov, where he produced 25 (8+17) points in his debut season, Nikishin transitioned to Spartak, where he made his KHL debut almost immediately. With the Red-and-Whites, he quickly established himself as a top defenseman, averaging more than eighteen minutes per game and leading the team’s defensemen with eight goals.
A turning point in Nikishin’s career was July 2022. The defenseman was the center of one of the most remarkable trades in the KHL history, when SKA gave Spartak a record-breaking nine players in exchange for the promising blueliner.
“I felt the pressure only the first day. When I came to SKA, everything started all over again, I only wanted to get acquainted with the team, get to know all the players, and no longer think about the trade.”
Alexander Nikishin
Nikishin's success extended beyond the KHL. In January 2022, he was selected to represent Team Russia at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. He returned with a silver medal, playing a prominent role for the team and further cementing his status as an emerging star. He was still representing Spartak then.
“The Olympics gave me a big chance, gave me more confidence in my abilities. It was a big step forward. I played with famed players and worked with an excellent coaching staff. Then I came back to the KHL, and I already had so much more knowledge and experience.”
Alexander Nikishin
Over the past two seasons, wearing the SKA jersey, Nikishin has led all KHL defensemen in points, amassing 55 and 56 points, respectively, and becoming the league’s points leader among blueliners for two consecutive seasons. He also accumulated other accolades, like two straight inclusions in the post-season first all-star team and the top plus-minus award. Despite his young age, he’s also captaining the franchise.
There’s only one thing that Nikishin is lacking – a Gagarin Cup. In 2022-2023, his first season with SKA, the St. Petersburg franchise surrendered to CSKA in the Conference Finals. Last year, SKA had a disappointing second-round exit against Avtomobilist with Nikishin watching the series from the locker room as he was out with an injury that required lower-body surgery.
However, with SKA deeply renewing its roster and inviting several veterans to their lineup, this may change, with the defenseman entering the final year of his contract with the St. Petersburg franchise.
