Former NHL defenseman Nikita Zaitsev has signed a four-year deal with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg. <q> Nikita Zaitsev is headed back to Russia, sadly confirming that we will never see a Niky Zatty Natty Hatty at the NHL level. </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/jfreshhockey/status/1808873073610772816'> </a></blockquote></div> The 32-year-old is returning to familiar territory, as he spent the last three seasons in the KHL with CSKA Moscow before beginning his NHL career. <q> Nikita Zaitsev is a SKA player! The experienced defenseman has penned a four-year contract with our club. The 32-year-old had previously spent eight seasons in the NHL. Welcome to Saint Petersburg! #hcSKA </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/hcska_news/status/1808845355955474580'> </a></blockquote></div> Zaitsev made the leap to the NHL at 24, undrafted, and played eight seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Chicago Blackhawks. <q> Nikita Zaitsev➡️Zach Sanford➡️Colin Blackwell🚨 Blackwell's 2nd goal of the game & 3rd of the season puts the #Blackhawks ahead 4-2 late in the 3rd period! </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/talkinhawkey/status/1744124382287462428'> </a></blockquote></div> He tallied 118 points and in 482 games and two points in 18 playoff games.
