Nikita Nikitin will not be going to Russia, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Rumours surfaced earlier this week that the Russian defenceman — who was placed on waivers and assigned to AHL Bakersfield by the Edmonton Oilers — would go back to his former KHL team Avangard Omsk.
Nikitin, 29, has one year to go on his two-year, $9 million deal.
The defenceman has 17 goals and 75 points in 248 career NHL games, including four goals and 10 points in 42 games with the Oilers last year.
