The Ottawa Senators waived Nikita Zaitsev on Wednesday.
The right-handed defenceman was placed on waivers Wednesday afternoon after a tumultuous start to his season, totalling just one assist in seven games to go along with a minus-3.
Zaitsev has also been scratched for the Senators multiple times this season.
With two more seasons to go on his initial seven-year, $31.5-million deal he signed in 2017 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it would seem unlikely that Zaitsev or his $4.5-million AAV will be claimed.
The Senators acquired Zaitsev in July 2019 in a summer blockbuster with the Maple Leafs.
For his Senators career, Zaitsev has seven goals and 34 assists for 41 points in 182 regular season games.
Ottawa also waived goaltender Magnus Hellberg, who has appeared in just one game this season.
