Nikita Zaitsev

Nikita Zaitsev
Born (1991-10-29) 29 October 1991
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		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Sibir Novosibirsk
CSKA Moscow
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 who currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL.

Playing career

He was a first round selection in the 2009 KHL Junior Draft, chosen 4th overall, and made his KHL debut with Sibir Novosibirsk a few months later. After four years with the Sibir organization, Zaitsev joined his hometown CSKA Moscow. It was here where 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 skating with the puck behind the net in a playoff game against the Washington Capitals in 2017.

In the summer of 2015, the Toronto Maple Leafs began to garner much publicized interest in the young blueliner. 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 Moscow.[2] During the subsequent season's playoffs, he led all defenceman 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]

On 2 May 2016, he signed a one-year entry level deal with the Maple Leafs.[1] He made his preseason debut with the club on 2 October, picking up 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 season opener. Zaitsev scored his first NHL goal on 17 December 2016, against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On May 2, 2017, Zaitsev was signed to a 7-year extension worth $31.5 million carrying an average value of $4.5 million a season.[4]

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

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Krylya Sovetov Moscow RUS-2 8 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2009–10 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 40 0 1 1 6 — — — — —
2010–11 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 39 0 2 2 12 4 0 0 0 2
2011–12 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 53 1 3 4 28 — — — — —
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
KHL totals 317 32 63 95 156 51 7 17 24 49
NHL totals 142 9 40 49 69 11 0 2 2 2

International


Zaitsev with the Russian national junior ice hockey team during the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Men's ice hockey
IIHF World Championship
2016 Russia
IIHF World U18 Championship
2009 United States
IIHF World U20 Championship
2011 United States
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2009 Russia WJC18 2nd, silver medalist(s) 7 1 4 5 14
2010 Russia WJC 6th 6 0 0 0 4
2011 Russia WJC 1st, gold medalist(s) 6 0 0 0 0
2013 Russia WC 6th 3 1 0 1 0
2016 Russia WC 3rd, 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
Junior totals 19 1 4 5 18
Senior totals 25 2 13 15 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. 1 2 3 4 5 "Maple Leafs Sign Defenceman Nikita Zaitsev". National Hockey League. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 "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 2017-05-02.
  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.
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