Senators want Zaitsev gone now and will sweeten pot considerably to get rid of him

While it hasn't necessarily shown up in the wins column so far this season, the Ottawa Senators took major steps to improve their team in the last offseason. One of the things that wasn't addressed was the contract that belongs to defenceman Nikita Zaitsev. The latest report from Kevin Weekes states the Sens want to get this issue resolved before the end of this season, and are willing to take steps to make sure it happens.

"I'm told @Senators are actively actively seeking a trade of D Zaitsev. They've granted permission to his representatives to speak with clubs," said Weekes on Twitter.

Weekes also said the team is willing to sweeten the pot to get rid of Zaitsev now if there's a team that's willing to take him on.

"My understanding is Sens willing to move high draft pick or a prospect to accommodate trade," said Weekes.

Ottawa has plenty of prospects, although a lot of them are already factored into the future of the team. That said, getting rid of Zaitsev's salary, which comes in at $4.5 million this year and next, would be a great move for the Sens if they want to add more to the team at the trade deadline (Ottawa's odds of making the playoffs right now are low, but not zero), or this coming summer. $4.5 million in today's NHL is mid-road, but Zaitsev is hardly a seventh defenceman on a lot of team's depth charts, and he was sent to and played in the AHL earlier this season. Even with the sweetener, this could be tough to pull off for GM Pierre Dorion.

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