Former Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs D Nikita Zaitsev signs four-year contract in the KHL

Nikita Zaitsev returns to the KHL after eight seasons in the National Hockey League.

Zaitsev, who played last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, signed a four-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg on Thursday.

The 32-year-old defenseman had two goals and seven points in 38 games with the Blackhawks last season. He was an unrestricted free agent this season after signing a seven-year, $31.5 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in May 2017.

The Blackhawks acquired Zaitsev from the Ottawa Senators in February 2023, along with two draft picks, in exchange for future considerations.

Zaitsev was signed by the Maple Leafs as an undrafted free agent in May 2016 and scored 22 goals and 118 points in 482 games across the Maple Leafs, Senators and Blackhawks.

Zaitsev played seven seasons in the KHL before joining Toronto.