The Ottawa Senators have traded defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Sens also sent a second-round pick in 2023 and a fourth-round pick in 2026 against future consideration.
TSN’s Chris Johnston reports that Zaitsev had a limited no-trade clause in his contract, but didn’t have to waive it to move to Chicago.
The Russian has one season left on his seven-year contract, which he signed in May 2017 for a total value of $31.5 million.
“We are happy to give Nikita a fresh start,” said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. Throughout his time with us he has been a true pro, a caring teammate and a quiet leader. We are happy to have had him in our ranks. We wish good luck to him and his family. »
Zaitsev began his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to Ottawa in the summer of 2019.
In 426 career NHL games, he has 19 goals and 89 assists. This season, he has five assists in 28 games with the big club in addition to having played three games in the American League with the Belleville Senators.