The Ottawa Senators have traded defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, a second-round pick in 2023, and a fourth-round pick in 2026 to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations, the teams announced Wednesday.

The move is purely a cap dump from Ottawa's perspective, as Zaitsev carries a $4.5-million cap hit through 2023-24 with a base salary of $2.5 million. He signed the contract in 2017 while a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Zaitsev has only appeared in 28 contests this season, notching five assists while averaging over 17 minutes per night. He suited up in 203 games for the Senators across four campaigns.