The president of the Continental Hockey League, Alexei Morozov, was pressed to name the league’s top defenceman, and he did not hesitate to point to Alexander Nikishin from St. Petersburg SKA. Morozov emphasized that his choice was based on performance, not personal preference, highlighting Nikishin as among the premier blue-liners in the KHL. He also mentioned Andrei Pedan as another defender he regards highly, signaling a strong appreciation for a pair of players who consistently influence games with solid two-way play and reliable decision-making from the back end.
During last season, Nikishin appeared in 65 regular-season games and posted an impressive 55 points, with 11 goals and 44 assists, underscoring his dual threat as a distributor and a scorer. In the post-season, he continued to deliver, skating in 14 playoff games and contributing eight points, a stat line that underscored his capacity to rise to the big moments when the stakes were highest. His season-long consistency helped SKA build a compelling case as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive defencemen, while his defensive play remained steady and reliable when opponents pressed for offense in pivotal moments.
With the new KHL campaign set to begin, the opening slate features a marquee matchup on September 1 as CSKA Moscow hosts Ak Bars Kazan, signaling a high-stakes start that will set the tone for a league eager to showcase star talent to audiences in North America and across Canada. SKA’s schedule includes their first game on September 2, a meeting that will offer observers a clear view of how the team plans to deploy Nikishin and his fellow defencemen against top-tier competition. Fans in North America watching the KHL will be looking for early indicators of form, chemistry on the blue line, and the ability of Russian clubs to translate their depth into sustained success as the season unfolds, especially with the rising interest in international play and cross-border scouting.
Morozov has previously spoken about the possibility of KHL teams playing friendlies or exhibition games against National Hockey League clubs. This topic remains a talking point as clubs on both sides of the Atlantic explore cooperative opportunities and competitive showcases that could raise the profile of players like Nikishin in North American markets. For analysts and fans, these discussions hint at a broader trend toward greater cross-border exchange in professional hockey, offering a clearer path for players to gain exposure, refine their skills against diverse styles, and demonstrate their value to leagues with expansive audiences and sponsorship potential. The ongoing dialogue reflects a shared interest in elevating the level of play and expanding the reach of elite defencemen who can impact games in multiple dimensions, from transition play to suppression in the defensive zone and the ability to initiate offensive sequences with precision.