475+ game NHL veteran gives up on the NHL at just 32-years-old

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Josh Tupper
May 21, 2024 (7:51)

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Nikita Zaitsev, a defenseman who is a pending unrestricted free agent, has been in the National Hockey League for a considerable amount of time since moving to the United States in 2016.

The Moscow native played his rookie season with the Toronto Maple Leafs before spending the majority of his career with the Ottawa Senators. Zaitsev has been with the Chicago Blackhawks for portions of the past two seasons, and in less than a month, he is expected to go undrafted.

It seems, though, that his days in the National Hockey League are numbered. According to Russian media outlet Sport-Express, Nikita Zaitsev will soon sign a multi-year (probably three-year) contract with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg.

The following quotes have been translated from Russian.

"As SE has learned, Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nikita Zaitsev will sign a multi-year contract with SKA.

The hockey player's agreement with the St. Petersburg club will last for at least three years."

In the 2023�24 season, Zaitsev, 31, made 38 appearances for the Chicago Blackhawks. After sustaining a right knee injury in January, he missed a large portion of the regular season. However, he was able to rejoin the Blackhawks lineup in early March. Zaitsev finished with seven points (two goals, five assists), 14 penalty minutes, and a minus-five in those 38 games.

Despite not living up to the promise in the National Hockey League, Zaitsev managed to establish a respectable career in North America, playing in 482 games over the course of eight seasons. Now that he has the opportunity, he might be able to complete his at home in Russia.