Senators trade Zaitsev, picks to Blackhawks for future considerations

The Ottawa Senators have traded defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, a second-round pick in 2023, and a fourth-round pick in 2026 to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations, the teams announced Wednesday.

The move is purely a cap dump from Ottawa's perspective, as Zaitsev carries a $4.5-million cap hit through 2023-24 with a base salary of $2.5 million. He signed the contract in 2017 while a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Zaitsev has only appeared in 28 contests this season, notching five assists while averaging over 17 minutes per night. He suited up in 203 games for the Senators across four campaigns.

Ottawa only has three defensemen under contract for next season - Thomas Chabot, Artem Zub, and Jake Sanderson - and has long been rumored to be in the market for a blue-liner with term throughout much of the season. This deal has now given the franchise more financial flexibility to potentially add one.

The Senators aren't expected to be buyers at the March 3 deadline. The club sits six points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference despite a 7-2-1 run in its last 10 games.

Chicago, on the other hand, is fully in sell mode leading up to the deadline as the team stares down a significant rebuild. The Blackhawks' biggest trade chip is former MVP Patrick Kane, who controls his own destiny with a full no-movement clause.

The Senators and Blackhawks previously connected on a blockbuster trade in the summer, with Chicago shipping winger Alex DeBrincat to Canada's capital for three draft picks.