I doubt it would actually cost that much. But I get why you feel that way. If he is this good in the KHL at such a young age, he probably is going to have a very good career in hockey wherever he decides to play.

That wouldn't be enough to have Carolina move him. If they want him out of Raleigh, it's going to hurt a lot more.

If, and this is a big if, the Canes were going to trade him for fair value, I'd expect a 1 for 1 deal with someone like Nazar. It's not worth it for a team to try and acquire him right now with that uncertainty. He's an absolute monster and there is the knowledge that he is going to come over, the uncertainty is when. Nikishin was traded in the KHL for 9 players and 50k, including multiple players that are NHL prospects. Whether or not he is worth that kind of value is a debate, but that would be my guess as to what it would take for Don Waddell to move him. It isn't worth it.

Let’s go Maxim Shalunov, Zhafyarov, Nikishin, Michkov

If he never comes to na, not any point to trade him considering we really couldn't get much for him, or at least not near what he's worth. Better off holding him and hoping he changes his mind. If we plans to come to na, the only reason i could see him being on the table right now, is if the canes wanted to make a run at patty kane. Him along with Morrow and maybe Trikosov are the 3 prospects that are probably harder to pry from the canes.