Zaitsev penned a four-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg on Thursday, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports.
The eight-year NHL veteran defenseman played 38 regular-season games with the Blackhawks in 2023-24, scoring twice and adding five assists. Zaitsev has also seen action with Toronto and Ottawa during his career, though the 32-year-old has likely seen his last action in the NHL.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Not suiting up
Rotowire
Zaitsev (illness) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Kings, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Zaitsev's absence will force the Blackhawks to dress 13 forwards and five defensemen. The 32-year-old blueliner ended up with seven points, 69 hits, 70 blocked shots and a minus-5 rating over 38 appearances with the Blackhawks this season.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Questionable Thursday
Rotowire
Zaitsev is questionable for Thursday's tilt against the Kings because of an illness, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Zaitsev has two goals, seven points, 69 hits and 70 blocks in 38 outings this season. Connor Murphy (undisclosed) has already been ruled out for the contest, so if Zaitsev doesn't play either, then Chicago might dress just five defensemen versus LA.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Ready to rock
Rotowire
Zaitsev (upper body) will return to action Sunday versus Minnesota, according to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Following a three-game absence, Zaitsev will replace Jarred Tinordi in the lineup. The 32-year-old Zaitsev has two goals, seven points, 30 shots on net, 69 blocked shots and 68 hits in 36 appearances this season.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Won't play Saturday
Rotowire
Zaitsev (upper body) won't play Saturday against Dallas, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Zaitsev will miss his third straight contest. He has picked up seven points, 30 shots on goal, 69 blocked shots and 68 hits in 36 appearances this season. Jarred Tinordi will remain in the lineup due to Zaitsev's absence.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Unavailable Tuesday
Rotowire
Zaitsev (upper body) won't be in the lineup Tuesday versus the Islanders, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Zaitsev will miss his second straight contest. He has provided seven points, 30 shots on goal, 69 blocked shots and 68 hits in 36 appearances this season. Jarred Tinordi has been playing during Zaitsev's absence.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Game-time call
Rotowire
Zaitsev (upper body) will be a game-time decision for Tuesday's matchup with the Islanders, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Even if Zaitsev's able to return against the Isles, he's picked up only seven points through 36 contests this season, so fantasy managers shouldn't need to track his status ahead of puck drop.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Expected to miss out Saturday
Rotowire
Zaitsev is slated to miss Saturday's matchup with the Flyers due to an upper-body injury, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Zaitsev is just 10 games back from a knee injury that previously sidelined him for nearly two months. During that stretch, the blueliner has been held off the scoresheet while chipping in just 12 shots, 17 blocks and 13 hits while averaging 15:35 of ice time.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Exits game with injury
Rotowire
Zaitsev sustained an undisclosed injury during Thursday's tilt against Ottawa and will miss the remainder of the contest, per Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago.
Zaitsev logged just 6:15 of ice time before exiting the game. If he can't play Saturday versus Philadelphia, then Jarred Tinordi might draw back into the lineup.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Activated Friday
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Zaitsev (knee) was taken off injured reserve Friday, per CapFriendly.
Zaitsev has two goals and seven points in 26 contests with Chicago this season. He was last in the lineup Jan. 16 but should draw in Saturday versus Washington as a part of the third pairing.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Might be available for Saturday
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Zaitsev (knee) might be available to return for Saturday's game versus Washington, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Zaitsev, who last played Jan. 16, has two goals, seven points, 55 hits and 52 blocks in 26 contests this season. If Zaitsev draws into the lineup Saturday, then Isaak Phillips might serve as a healthy scratch.
Zaitsev suffered a bone fracture Jan. 16 versus San Jose in addition to his previously reported knee injury, according to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Zaitsev is progressing and is expected to return to action in mid-March. The defenseman has two goals, five assists, 55 hits and 52 blocked shots in 26 games in 2023-24.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Lands on IR
Rotowire
Zaitsev (knee) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
The Blackhawks have yet to release an expected timetable for Zaitsev's recovery, but he'll miss the next three games at a minimum now that he's on IR. Louis Crevier and Isaak Phillips will likely rotate in and out of the lineup during Zaitsev's absence.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Exits Tuesday's game
Rotowire
Zaitsev (undisclosed) won't return to Tuesday's contest against San Jose.
Zaitsev logged just 8:46 of ice time prior to leaving Tuesday's matchup. It's unclear at this time if he will be available for Wednesday's clash with Buffalo. Zaitsev entered Monday's action with seven points, 18 shots on goal, 51 blocked shots and 38 hits over 25 games this season.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Two points against Calgary
Rotowire
Zaitsev scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Flames.
The 32-year-old blueliner has been feast or (mostly) famine this season. In 16 games since the beginning of December, Zaitsev has three multi-point performances and 13 goose eggs. He's currently skating on Chicago's second power-play unit, but given that the team has more talent on injured reserve right now than on the ice, with the absence of Connor Bedard (jaw) looming especially large, that assignment doesn't carry as much fantasy appeal as it would under better circumstances.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Good to go
Rotowire
Zaitsev (illness) will return to the lineup Tuesday versus Nashville, according to Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago.
Zaitsev will replace Isaak Phillips in the lineup following a two-game absence. The 32-year-old Zaitsev has contributed five points, 12 shots on goal, 32 blocked shots and 29 hits over 18 appearances this campaign.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Still out Sunday
Rotowire
Zaitsev (illness) won't play Sunday versus the Stars, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic reports.
Zaitsev will miss his second straight game. The 32-year-old has just five points with 32 blocked shots and 29 hits over 18 appearances this season. Louis Crevier remains in the lineup on the third pairing, while Zaitsev can be considered day-to-day ahead of Tuesday's game in Nashville.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Out Friday
Rotowire
Zaitsev (illness) will not suit up Friday against Dallas, Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Zaitsev was a late scratch due to an illness and his status for Sunday's game against the Stars is in question. The 32-year-old has just four assists in 18 games this season. Louis Crevier will dress in Zaitsev's absence Friday.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Dishes two helpers in win
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Zaitsev logged a pair of assists and two hits in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Avalanche.
Zaitsev has a pair of two-assists efforts over his nine appearances in December. He set up Ryan Donato to open the scoring Tuesday, and Zaitsev also assisted on Tyler Johnson's game-winner on the power play in the third period. Zaitsev is up to five points, eight shots on net, 26 hits, 27 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating through 15 outings this season. He should remain in the lineup as long as Seth Jones (shoulder), Kevin Korchinski (personal), Jarred Tinordi (concussion) and Alex Vlasic (upper body) are out.
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Blackhawks' Nikita Zaitsev: Contributes two assists
Rotowire
Zaitsev logged a pair of assists, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Blues.
Zaitsev was initially credited with the opening goal, but it ultimately deflected in off Anthony Beauvillier. Zaitsev also set up Jason Dickinson's second-period tally. Through his first nine outings of the season, Zaitsev failed to record a helper. He's up to three points, four shots on net, 17 hits, 16 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating over 10 contests in a bottom-four role. He'll likely continue to have steady playing time until Kevin Korchinski (personal) and Jarred Tinordi (concussion) are able to return.
