500-game veteran leaves the NHL and signs long-term deal overseas

PUBLICATION

TJ Tucker
May 22, 2024  (1:26 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Photo credit: The Score

A veteran of close to 500 NHL games with several different teams has reportedly signed a long-term deal in his home country, marking the end of his NHL career

It appears to be the end of the line for a veteran defenceman and his NHL career. Several reports state Nikita Zaitsev is heading home.

Several reports out of Russia state Zaitsev, 32, has signed a three-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. While Zaitsev played in the Russian league before coming to North America, this is his first contract with SKA.

The move shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Zaitsev just finished up a seven-year deal worth $31.5 million that he signed as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2017. He was also recently spotted in Russia with the head coach of SKA.

Zaitsev's contract, which was signed by Lou Lamoriello when he was GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was up there with the worst signings in recent memory. In 2019, he requested a trade out of Toronto, and was sent to the Ottawa Senators in a multi-player exchange. By November of 2022, the Sens placed Zaitsev on waivers after being unable to find a trade partner, and he ended up in the AHL for a handful of games. Four months later, he was dealt to Chicago, where he finished out his contract.

Zaitsev was never drafted, instead signing an entry-level deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent. In 482 regular season games in the NHL, Zaitsev scored 22 goals and 118 points. SKA St. Petersburg is always in the hunt for the KHL's Gagarin Cup, and has been a powerhouse in the league for some time.

Warning: include(/home//inout/pub_inline.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/marqueur/public_html/news/auto/blogs_id/380268.php on line 37

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home//inout/pub_inline.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php74/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/marqueur/public_html/news/auto/blogs_id/380268.php on line 37

Previously

Another Toronto Maple Leaf joins the Penguins under Kyle Dubas

Pierre LeBrun links western conference powerhouse to Mitch Marner

Oilers reporter Mark Spector facing backlash for disgusting comments

POLL
MAI 22   |   230 ANSWERS 500-game veteran leaves the NHL and signs long-term deal overseas Are you surprised that Nikita Zaitsev is leaving the NHL for the KHL?
Yes	40	17.4 %
No	162	70.4 %
Not sure	28	12.2 %
LIST OF POLLS

MUST READ

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Vancouver Canucks' Contract Offer to Brock Boeser Leaks Publicly

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Montreal Canadiens Star Undergoes Season-Ending Knee Surgery

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Philadelphia Flyers Officially Looking to Trade Former 39-Goal Scorer

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Evander Kane May Be in His Final Days in Edmonton After Friedman Reveals New Information

Feb 28  |  By Mike Whitaker Maple Leafs Forward Pulls Back Trade Request

Feb 27  |  By Mike Whitaker Brad Marchand Goes Viral for Passionate Video Ahead of Four Nations Faceoff Final

Feb 27  |  By Mike Whitaker David Pastrnak's Latest Comments Suggest Bruins Will Be Big Sellers at the Deadline

Feb 27  |  By Julien Trekker 6-Foot-6 Winger Linked to the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline

MORE STORIES