Alexander Nikulin

Alexander Sergeevich Nikulin (; born August 25, 1985) is a Russian professional ice hockey player. Nikulin is currently playing with TUTO Hockey in the Finnish Mestis.

Playing career Alexander turned professional with HC CSKA Moscow of the Russian Super League in 2004. After playing three seasons with CSKA, Alexander signed with the Ottawa Senators who had drafted him 122nd overall in the 2004 NHL entry draft. Nikulin played his first NHL game for the Ottawa Senators on November 22, 2007 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the 2008–09 season Nikulin was assigned to the Binghamton Senators of the AHL. Disappointed with his slow progress to the NHL with the Senators, Nikulin demanded a trade or voiced the possibility of returning to Russia. On November 3, 2008, Nikulin was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for Drew Fata. Nikulin was then assigned to affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, where he spent the majority of the season, only playing in a single game with the Coyotes.

On May 24, 2009, failing an adaptation to the North American style, Nikulin signed with his former team, CSKA Moscow of the KHL, for the 2009-10 season.

During the 2014–15 season, Nikulin's third stint with CSKA was cut short to 5 scoreless games after he was waived and claimed by Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk on October 29, 2014.

On July 5, 2015, Nikulin continued his career in the KHL, signing a contract with HC Lada Togliatti.

Personal While with the Senators, Nikulin maintained a blog of his transition to North America, which became popular due to its candour.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2001–02 Molot–Prikamie–2 Perm RUS-3 37 14 7 21 20 — — — — — 2002–03 Molot–Prikamie–2 Perm RUS-3 51 23 12 35 68 — — — — — 2003–04 CSKA–2 Moscow RUS-3 55 23 27 50 60 — — — — — 2004–05 CSKA Moscow RSL 16 3 3 6 0 — — — — — 2004–05 CSKA–2 Moscow RUS-3 6 2 1 3 0 — — — — — 2005–06 CSKA Moscow RSL 51 10 11 21 22 7 1 0 1 2 2006–07 CSKA Moscow RSL 33 5 11 16 8 12 4 2 6 4 2006–07 CSKA–2 Moscow RUS-3 4 2 3 5 0 — — — — — 2007–08 Binghamton Senators AHL 71 14 36 50 34 — — — — — 2007–08 Ottawa Senators NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2008–09 Binghamton Senators AHL 5 2 0 2 0 — — — — — 2008–09 San Antonio Rampage AHL 64 7 16 23 20 — — — — — 2008–09 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2009–10 CSKA Moscow KHL 42 5 17 22 2 3 0 0 0 0 2010–11 CSKA Moscow KHL 7 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2010–11 Amur Khabarovsk KHL 45 5 17 22 4 — — — — — 2011–12 Amur Khabarovsk KHL 44 6 20 26 12 — — — — — 2012–13 Amur Khabarovsk KHL 14 1 2 3 2 — — — — — 2012–13 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 36 4 11 15 6 7 1 1 2 0 2013–14 Spartak Moscow KHL 45 4 4 8 8 — — — — — 2014–15 CSKA Moscow KHL 5 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 2014–15 Buran Voronezh VHL 7 4 3 7 6 — — — — — 2014–15 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk KHL 22 1 4 5 4 — — — — — 2015–16 Lada Togliatti KHL 16 0 2 2 8 — — — — — 2015–16 HC Vityaz KHL 26 4 6 10 0 — — — — — 2016–17 HC Vityaz KHL 51 8 14 22 6 4 1 1 2 0 2017–18 HC Vityaz KHL 48 11 14 25 6 — — — — — 2018–19 HC Vityaz KHL 52 3 14 17 6 2 0 0 0 0 2019–20 MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš SVK 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2019–20 TUTO Hockey Mestis 11 4 9 13 29 — — — — — 2021–22 TUTO Hockey Mestis 42 9 24 33 20 — — — — — RSL totals 100 18 26 44 30 19 5 2 7 6 NHL totals 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — KHL totals 453 52 126 178 68 16 2 2 4 0

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 2005 Russia WJC 6 1 1 2 2 Junior totals 6 1 1 2 2