The Senators have traded defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations, Ottawa announced Wednesday. Chicago also receives a second-round 2023 draft pick and a fourth-round 2026 draft pick in the deal. Here’s what you need to know:
- Zaitsev has five assists and zero goals in 28 games this season for the Senators, his fourth with the team.
- The 31-year-old has one year remaining on a seven-year, $31.5 million deal he signed in May 2017.
- The Blackhawks now have nine picks in the first two rounds over the next two drafts (four first-round picks and five second-round picks).
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What they’re saying
“We are getting an NHL caliber defenseman and acquiring very valuable draft capital in this upcoming draft and beyond,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. “Nikita gives us added depth on the right side and we anticipate him joining us soon.”
What Zaitsev means for Chicago
The Blackhawks have a bevy of young defensemen knocking on the door of the NHL, and Zaitsev appears to be another veteran body in the way. But with Jake McCabe, Jack Johnson and Connor Murphy all on the trading block, it’s possible a few spots will open up anyway for the likes of Isaak Phillips, Ian Mitchell, Alex Vlasic and 2022 first-rounder Kevin Korchinski.
Davidson’s priority at this point is accumulating as much draft capital as possible as the NHL squad bottoms out. And he hasn’t even moved Patrick Kane, McCabe or Sam Lafferty yet. This also helps the Blackhawks reach the cap floor next season, with Jonathan Toews ($10.5 million), Kane ($10.5 million) and about $3.6 million of Duncan Keith’s recapture penalty coming off the books. — Lazerus
Why did the Senators make this move?
This absolutely feels like a precursor to another trade for Ottawa. By dumping Zaitsev’s contract, the Senators are out from his contract, which carried a $4.5 million cap hit through the end of next season. Ottawa is clearing out cap space, likely with the intention of adding another defenceman at some point before the March 3 deadline.
It would seem strange that general manager Pierre Dorion would suddenly feel the need to send a second- and fourth-round pick to Chicago to take Zaitsev’s contract unless he had something else brewing. We’ll likely be able to analyze this trade from an Ottawa perspective once the other shoe drops. — Mendes
Why Zaitsev didn’t fit in Ottawa
Over the past couple of seasons, Zaitsev has become a lightning rod for criticism in the Senators’ fan base. His play in the defensive zone was likely not commensurate with his $4.5 million salary and he found himself demoted to the AHL at the end of November. Even though Zaitsev returned to the club in December and played a fairly steady role, it felt like his days were numbered after the demotion.
At this stage of the game, he’s likely a sixth or seventh defenceman on most NHL teams. He doesn’t generate a ton offensively, but he’s able to kill penalties if needed. When he first arrived in Ottawa in 2019-20, Zaitsev was hailed as the long-term fit alongside Thomas Chabot on Ottawa’s top pairing. However, as the years progressed, Zaitsev found himself sliding down the depth chart. — Mendes
What’s next for the Blackhawks?
Weaponizing cap space is important and a key part of Davidson’s grand plan. But the real fireworks should begin any day now, with pretty much the entire roster short of Seth Jones and Philipp Kurashev available to anyone who wants to throw a draft pick Chicago’s way.
Kane is the headliner, of course, but the Blackhawks believe they can leverage a first-round pick for McCabe — easily their best defenseman this season — if they retain half of his $4 million cap hit over the next two seasons. Lafferty, a speedy penalty-killer who has scored 10 goals this season (including four shorthanded), is on the market, too, and the Blackhawks are hoping he’s worth a second-rounder to somebody. — Lazerus
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(Photo: Nick Turchiaro / USA Today)
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Senators trade Nikita Zaitsev to Blackhawks: How the deal helps Chicago’s salary cap floor - The Athletic
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