Ottawa Senators Trade Nikita Zaitsev to the Chicago Blackhawks

OTTAWA, CANADA - JANUARY 28: Nikita Zaitsev #22 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Montreal Canadiens at Canadian Tire Centre on January 28, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, CANADA - JANUARY 28: Nikita Zaitsev #22 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Montreal Canadiens at Canadian Tire Centre on January 28, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
Nikita Zaitsev #22 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
Nikita Zaitsev #22 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /
It’s done.

The Ottawa Senators have sent the veteran defenceman with two picks to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations. The

Senators

will send their second-round pick this year and a fourth-rounder in 2026 for this salary dump. The Russian defenseman had been rumoured to be traded during last offseason. This move was made due to his high salary cap of 4.5 million dollars. The Senators need every penny they can get with a few contracts up this off-season. It is also expected that the Senators will target a right-shot defenseman at some point, and the cap was needed.

SenShot
SenShot /

Want your voice heard? Join the SenShot team!

Write for us!

Zaitsev was initially acquired with Connor Brown in exchange for Cody Ceci. He was the final piece remaining from that trade. More to come this week