Carolina Hurricanes fans have anxiously been awaiting the arrival of top prospect Alexander Nikishin ever since the team announced that they had agreed to terms with the player on a two-year ELC.
While there was some hope that the Russian defenseman would have been able to play in the Hurricanes' final two regular season games, it seems like that will not be the case unfortunately.
Nikishin, 23, is still awaiting not only his U.S. visa, but also a Canadian one as well that he would need in order to play in Montreal and Ottawa.
And as of Tuesday, it seems like there hasn't been any progress on either front.
"I don't think he's going to be able to [join us in Canada], from what I've heard because of not only the visa issues for U.S., but to get to Canada, I think there's also an issue from what I've been told," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "I know it's in process, but I think it's probably unlikely from what I've been hearing."
So it's looking like it'll still be a little while longer before we see Nikishin in a Carolina Hurricanes sweater.
Carolina Hurricanes' Russians Already Familiar, Ready To Help Fellow Countryman Alexander Nikishin With Transition
It can be a really difficult transition for rookies coming to the NHL for the first time.
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