Nikita Zaitsev a buyout candidate??!

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Joshua Deeds
June 17, 2023 (2:21)

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Many teams are expected to make changes to their rosters during the upcoming free-agency period following the draft. The Chicago Blackhawks are one such team, despite having ample cap space.

They will need to make some minor adjustments to their roster. The big question is, who will be the odd man out as determined by Kyle Davidson?

Nikita Zaitsev is likely the only player in the conversation here for the #Blackhawks. Here's a look at his buyout calculations, per
@CapFriendly

One possibility is Nikita Zaitsev, a blueliner who has recently been traded between various teams.

The Blackhawks acquired veteran Nikita Zaitsev, a 2023 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder from Ottawa in exchange for future considerations. Zaitsev, 31, has a $4.5 million cap hit through the 2023-24 season. He had a limited no-trade clause, but Chicago was on his list of approved teams

Although he has a year left on his contract with the team, his $4.5 million cap hit means that a buyout would only result in minimal savings for the team.

Zaitsev has struggled to establish himself in the NHL, making it difficult to predict where he might go next. However, a buyout would save the team $833K overall, which could make a significant difference in terms of call-ups or new signings.

As Seen On: espn.com