Nikita Zaitsev

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Nikita Zaitsev
Nikita Zajtsev May 4, 2014.jpg
Zaitsev with Russia in 2014
Born (1991-10-29) 29 October 1991 (age 30)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Ottawa Senators
Sibir Novosibirsk
CSKA Moscow
Toronto Maple Leafs
National team  Russia
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2009–present

Nikita Igorevich Zaitsev (Russian: Никита Игоревич Зайцев; born 29 October 1991) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career[]

KHL[]

Zaitsev was selected by Sibir Novosibirsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in the first round, fourth overall, of the 2009 KHL Junior Draft, making his debut for the club a few months later. After four years with the Sibir organization, Zaitsev joined his hometown CSKA Moscow, after which he began to attract international attention. He was twice a KHL All-Star (2015, 2016) and named once to the KHL First All-Star team (2014–15).[1]

Zaitsev (behind the net) defending the puck from Nicklas Bäckström (left) in a playoff game against the Washington Capitals in 2017.

In the summer of 2015, the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs began to garner publicized interest in Zaitsev; Zaitsev had even toured the city and arena, while also meeting with team staff, coming away "very impressed".[2] Despite this, Zaitsev returned to Russia to honour the final year of his contract with CSKA.[2] During the subsequent season's playoffs, he led all defencemen in scoring with 13 points (tied with Sami Lepistö and Chris Lee), while helping the top-seeded CSKA to the Gagarin Cup finals, where the team lost in the deciding Game 7 to Metallurg Magnitogorsk.[3]

NHL[]

Toronto Maple Leafs[]

On 2 May 2016, Zaitsev signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs.[1] He made his pre-season debut with the club on 2 October, scoring a goal in a 3–2 win over the rival Montreal Canadiens. On 12 October 2016, Zaitsev made his official NHL debut in a 5–4 loss to the Ottawa Senators in the 2016–17 season opener. He scored his first NHL goal on 17 December 2016 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On 2 May 2017, Zaitsev signed a new seven-year, $31.5 million contract with Toronto carrying an average annual value of $4.5 million.[4]

During the 2017–18 season, Zaitsev was placed on injured reserve (IR) with a lower body injury on 17 December 2017. He had 7 points in 18 games with Toronto before being placed on IR.[5] After missing 17 games, he returned to the lineup on 30 January 2018 for a game against the New York Islanders.[6]

Ottawa Senators[]

On 1 July 2019, Zaitsev was traded (along with Connor Brown and Michael Carcone) to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Cody Ceci, Ben Harpur, Aaron Luchuk and a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.[7]

Career statistics[]

Regular season and playoffs[]

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 MHC Krylya Sovetov RUS.2 8 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2
2008–09 MHC Krylya Sovetov–2 RUS.4 23 6 12 18 24 — — — — —
2009–10 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 40 0 1 1 6 — — — — —
2009–10 Siberian Snipers MHL 4 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2010–11 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 39 0 2 2 12 4 0 0 0 2
2010–11 Siberian Snipers MHL 4 1 2 3 0 — — — — —
2010–11 Zauralie Kurgan VHL — — — — — 4 0 2 2 4
2011–12 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 53 1 3 4 28 — — — — —
2011–12 Siberian Snipers MHL 4 4 0 4 0 — — — — —
2012–13 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 49 7 11 18 41 7 1 0 1 8
2013–14 CSKA Moscow KHL 33 4 8 12 18 4 1 1 2 27
2014–15 CSKA Moscow KHL 57 12 20 32 31 16 1 7 8 2
2015–16 CSKA Moscow KHL 46 8 18 26 20 20 4 9 13 10
2016–17 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 4 32 36 38 4 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 60 5 8 13 31 7 0 2 2 2
2018–19 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 81 3 11 14 18 7 0 0 0 2
2019–20 Ottawa Senators NHL 58 1 11 12 22 — — — — —
2020–21 Ottawa Senators NHL 55 4 13 17 26 — — — — —
KHL totals 317 32 63 95 156 51 7 17 24 49
NHL totals 336 17 75 92 135 18 0 2 2 4

International[]

NikitaZaitsev.JPG
Zaitsev at the 2010 World Junior Championships
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Russia
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Slovakia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 United States
World U18 Championships
Silver medal – second place 2009 United States
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2009 Russia WJC18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 1 4 5 14
2010 Russia WJC 6th 6 0 0 0 4
2011 Russia WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 0 0 0 0
2013 Russia WC 6th 3 1 0 1 0
2016 Russia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 10 1 3 4 2
2016 Russia WCH 4th 4 0 2 2 2
2018 Russia WC 6th 8 0 8 8 0
2019 Russia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 10 2 2 4 0
Junior totals 19 1 4 5 18
Senior totals 35 4 15 19 4

Awards and honours[]

Award or Honour Year Ref
KHL
2x KHL All-Star 2015, 2016 [1]
KHL First All Star Team 2015 [1]
Most playoff points by a defenceman (13) 2016 [1]
International
WC All-Star Team 2016

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Maple Leafs Sign Defenceman Nikita Zaitsev". National Hockey League. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Leafs summer recruit Nikita Zaitsev thriving in final year of KHL deal". Pension Plan Puppets. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Alex Semin, Metallurg win KHL championship in thrilling Game 7". Roger's Sportsnet. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Maple Leafs sign Nikita Zaitsev to long-term extension; Ben Smith inked - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  5. ^ Canadian Press (17 December 2017). "Maple Leafs recall Martin Marincin, place Nikita Zaitsev on IR". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Holl, Dermott pick up first career NHL goals as Leafs beat Islanders". tsn.ca. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018. Defenceman Nikita Zaitsev was also back in Toronto's lineup after missing 17 games with a foot injury.
  7. ^ "Senators acquire Zaitsev, Brown from Toronto in six-player deal". Ottawa Senators. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.

External links[]

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