"Ottawa" Russian defender Zaitsev traded to "Chicago"

Moscow, February 23 – As a result of the exchange, Russian defender Nikita Zaitsev became a player of the National Hockey League (NHL) Chicago Blackhawks, according to a press release from the Ottawa Senators, for which the Russian has played since the 2019/20 season.

“We are delighted to be giving Nikita the opportunity to start over. He is a professional who has proven to be a caring teammate and hidden leader throughout his career with Ottawa. We are grateful for his time with the club and wish him and his family all the very best,” said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion.

Along with the Russian defenseman, Chicago received a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Ottawa negotiated the deal with considerations for the future, which would allow the club to decide on player compensation at a later date. Also, the Canadian club did not withhold part of Zaitsev’s salary. The hockey player who hit the $4.5 million cap is currently on a seven-year contract until the end of the 2023/24 season.