Senators Pay Blackhawks to Take Defenseman Zaitsev

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The Ottawa Senators unveiled Part 1 of a two-part story Wednesday when they traded defenseman Nikita Zaitsev and draft picks to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations.

In other words, the Senators paid the Blackhawks a 2023 second- and 2026 fourth-round pick to rid themselves of Zaitsev’s $4.5 million salary.

Part 2 will be revealed when the Senators use the fresh cap space for a deal. Likely it will come before the March 3 trade deadline. However, it could occur during the offseason when general manager Pierre Dorion is tweaking his roster.

The Senators, six points out of an Eastern Conference wild-card spot, still believe they have an outside shot at the playoffs

The Ottawa Sun said Dorion is trying to make a deal now to add a defenseman or center. The Senators could also be interested in a goalie.

According to the Sun, the Senators have inquired about the possibility of acquiring potential UFA defenseman Matt Dumba from the Minnesota Wild. However, they would want permission to talk to him about an extension first.

The Senators have also talked to the Los Angeles Kings about the availability of defensemen Sean Durzi, Sean Walker and Matt Roy.

Zaitsev, 31, has spent four seasons with the Senators and his tenure has been marked by inconsistency. Earlier this season, he drew unwanted attention by calling out a fan online because he didn’t like his meme on Instagram.

After this season, Zaitsev has one more season left on his contract. That could be a plus for the Blackhawks who could be dealing a few defensemen before the trade deadline and this summer.

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