Kọ itẹsiwaju fun paragirafi yii - Lẹhin ti o ṣe aṣoju Russia ni Awọn ere Olimpiiki Igba otutu 2002, Nikolishin ti ta lati awọn Capitals, pẹlu Chris Simon, si Chicago Blackhawks fun Michael Nylander ati 2003
yíyàn ìpele kẹta (Steve Werner) ní November 1, 2002. Nikolishin ṣe ere akoko kan nikan pẹlu awọn Blackhawks ṣaaju ki o to tun ṣe iṣowo ni June 21, 2003, si Colorado Avalanche ṣaaju akoko 2003-04, ti o kẹhin rẹ ni NHL.