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. 

Not only are they trying to fit into the locker room as a the new guy, but they're also having to learn systems, drills, tendencies, the area, the staff and so much more.

Now imagine doing all of that while English isn't your native language either.

However, luckily for soon-to-be the newest Carolina Hurricanes defenseman, Alexander Nikishin, he already knows more than a few faces on the team.

The Canes trio of Russian — Andrei Svechnikov, Dmitry Orlov and Pyotr Kochetkov — are not only countrymen of Nikihsin, but have met him in person as well.

Over the summer, a few Russian NHL players organized a NHL vs. KHL charity match that pitted some of both league's biggest Russian stars against one another in Moscow.

All three of the Canes' Russian contingency were invited to play for Team NHL while Nikishin was a part of the KHL team.

"It was fun," Svechnikov told The Hockey News. "It was kind of the first time all the NHL guys playing against KHL guys. You don't really see that a lot. Got to hang out with the boys for a couple days and it was amazing. I never played in front of that many people because I left when I was 16. It was an amazing experience."

"It was good," Orlov said. "It's always nice to have those charity games, especially when everybody comes. Some big names where in that game and obviously you play with some guys that you know or see in the summertime. We had a nice dinner afterwards. It was fun. Hope it happens every year. I think it's important and it was a joy to play with some of those guys."

"It was good for Russian fans," Kochetkov said. "Russian superstars all play in the NHL, so for Russian guys, it's very good to see those players like Ovi. It was a good experience for me too. I liked it."

While there wasn't too much time to socialize during the game, the Hurricanes managed to find time after to get to know their future teammate a little more.

"That was my first time meeting him and I hung out with him after the game a couple times," Svechnikov said. "We went out for dinner. An amazing guy. He just wants to come here and play for us. 

It will also be helpful that Nikishin was surrounded by a few players who have familiarity with the organization, such as Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tony DeAngelo, who both played for Carolina last season before winding up with SKA.

"I actually did see him in the summertime too," Orlov said on Nikishin. "They already had KHL camp started and the A-team was in Moscow and they have an Olympic base and I lived close by. So I saw Kuzy and we got dinner and Nikishin was there, so that's when I met him.

"He's a good player obviously and our organization is waiting for him. He's gonna be the most important D piece for this team in the future."

Nikishin has already admitted that his English isn't the best in an interview with RG.org, but he also said that he'll be able to rely on guys like Svechnikov, who has been reaching out to him a bunch in recent days, for help.

Comfort is so key for young players to truly blossom into their potential and it looks like the Canes are perfectly set up to help the fresh-faced Russian make the adjustment as smooth as possible.

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