Nikita Zaitsev: “I immediately realized that St. Petersburg is the best place in Russia to play hockey”

reported yesterday, and later received official confirmation, that SKA had signed the 32-year-old defender to a four-year contract. Nikita Zaitsev.

The strength of this hockey player is that he can play both in the majority and in the minority. An experienced all-rounder who played 368 games in the KHL and 500 games in the NHL – this is a unique balance. Who else in our league can boast of this? Not to mention the fact that Zaitsev performed in Canada, the United States and Russia. He spent eight seasons with Toronto, Ottawa and Chicago. He grew up in Krylya Sovetov, played for Sibir and CSKA.

Excellent throw, dimensions (188 cm / 87 kg), straight grip. Nikita will perfectly fit into the SKA game system, and there is no doubt about it. And I remember when Zaitsev played in the first pair of the Russian national team at the World Championships – yes, this is exactly a defender of this level.

“Rotenberg and I communicated normally in the Russian national team”

— Why did you take a photo with Roman Rotenberg in the forest? The SKA head coach posted this photo when he announced the signing of a contract with you.

– It’s in the Moscow region, after training I came to have lunch – it so happened that we were both in this place. And we decided to take a photo, especially since there was a reason.

I am currently training in Moscow. And next week I will fly to Miami for literally three days to finish my household chores and solve all the problems. I will train there for a few more days and return to Russia, because the training camp starts at SKA on August 1st.

— You have been training for a long time.

– If you count, then this is the sixth week. Everything is going according to plan, I am constantly in contact with the SKA coaches. I also train with my coach and go on the ice.

— You probably had options in the NHL, but why did you decide to come to the KHL?

– Actually, there are several reasons. First of all, family. The children are now in Russia and go to school. Anyway, we sat down as a family, discussed it and made this decision. I didn’t want to wait for options in the NHL or sign a contract for one year. I needed stability.

—Aren’t you tired of America?

– I can’t say that. And I’m not tired of the NHL. It’s a tough league, but I had a lot of fun playing in it. Now I just decided that a new stage should begin in my life.

— You signed a long-term agreement…

— Yes, it is very important that the contract with SKA is for four years. The bigger the better. Again, it is stability, confidence in the future. This was one of the most important factors in the decision.

— Insiders report that you signed a contract with SKA for 50 million rubles per year. But you allegedly asked CSKA for 200 million per season, including bonuses!

— They would have written right away that it was 500 million. I didn’t ask for anything at all. And you shouldn’t trust all insiders. I signed a contract with a normal salary and I’m happy with everything. The main thing is that the team wins.

— What was the decisive conversation with Rotenberg when you decided to sign a contract with SKA?

– Yes, we have always communicated normally. I came to the Russian national team all the time and it has continued since then. Roman Borisovich played an important role in the organization and communication with hockey players. I have always had a good relationship with him.

There were no comprehensive negotiations. We agreed very quickly and immediately found a common language. I don’t even have anything to add.

— After all, other KHL clubs also applied for you.

— To be honest, I didn’t really negotiate with other teams. I finished the season in the NHL and we had a conversation specifically with SKA. One or two clubs in Russia showed superficial interest, but we didn’t go into details. I understood that I wanted to play for SKA, that there was a great team there. We recruited not only a lot of good young players, but also veterans who know how to win cups. All this interested me. Great city, fans. I think it’s the best place in Russia to play hockey.

— Experienced guys like Andronov, Plotnikov, Grigorenko joined the team in the offseason. You played together, right?

— In the Russian national team – of course, and we constantly cross paths. I have good relations with everyone. I am really looking forward to seeing the guys again. I believe that thanks to them, SKA is gaining not only championship experience, but also skills. They are very good all-round players. They are at a very high level and have strong leadership qualities. They will help a lot, especially in a situation where there are a lot of young and promising players in the team. In other words, the right balance is being created in SKA, everyone can see it.

— Have you already found an apartment in St. Petersburg?

— Not yet, my wife is doing that. Now we are actively looking for where we will live. We have not decided anything specific, but we will decide soon. St. Petersburg is very beautiful and big, there are options and it should not be a problem.

“I’m already playing with Alexander Nikishin”

— How important is it that your role at SKA changes? We know that you play well in attack, in the majority. But in the NHL, you were often used as a homebody and were released in the minority.

“That’s why I’m not worried at all.” The club has a coach and he knows better how to use me in the game. It’s really important for me that the team wins, that we win cups. For SKA to be a champion club, like before. We all remember how Peter won the Gagarin Cups in 2015 and 2017.

We will see what specific role will be assigned to me. I will do everything to make everything right on my part, and we will win a lot. Again, I consider it a huge plus that over the years of my career I have reached a certain level of versatility. I can play both in the majority and in the minority, it is not a problem. I want to give SKA everything I have learned over the years.

— It is quite possible that in St. Petersburg you will be paired with Alexander Nikishin, the best defender in the league.

— Sasha and I have already managed to play together. A very good guy – both as a person and as a hockey player. A nice and well-mannered guy. It will be very interesting to play with him on the same team.

— Could Nikishin make a splash in the NHL?

– He is already a ready-made player for the overseas league, and I can say that with certainty. If Alexander gets there, it will not be difficult for him to play there at a high level. Moreover, he was drafted by an excellent team – Carolina. It is great that SKA has such great masters.

– When did you play together?

– Yes, last Friday we tried double-sided. They went out together as a couple. Maybe we will play again this Friday. I have never seen Nikishin on the ice in my life. But now I rode with him, talked in the gym – we go together to the same general fitness trainer. Sasha is a very great player in every sense of the word. Everything is in his hands, how he will use his talent and skills further, how he will progress.

The “Match of the Year” in Moscow is a global event for our hockey.”

— On July 20, the “Match of the Year” will take place in Moscow, in which hockey players from the NHL and KHL will play. How did you receive the invitation?

— Misha Sergachev wrote to me and thank you very much for inviting me. I accepted with pleasure, of course. I think it is very important. Especially since the money goes to charity. And in general, our fans have not seen so many of our hockey stars in action for a long time. It will be a great match just by its name.

Many thanks to Sergachev and like-minded people for the idea and organization. A cool “Match of the Year” awaits us – I hope it will impress everyone. This is a world event for our hockey.

— By the way, Sergachev was recently traded from Tampa to Utah. That’s a shock for any player, isn’t it? Mikhail just bought a dream house in Tampa and with the Lightning he won two Stanley Cups. And then you have to go to the other side of the country…

“I think there’s nothing wrong with trades. The dream home in Tampa is here to stay. It’s a new challenge in my career, which means there are other opportunities. Over there in Utah, a new team is being formed after I left Arizona. If they had asked me, I would have reacted generally calmly to such a trade. Just a new page in my career. I think Misha also has a positive attitude about it and without too many worries. He’s going to Utah to be the main defender. Everything will be fine for him.

— Nikita Zadorov signed a six-year contract with Boston. What awaits him there?

— Zadorov will definitely add size and physical strength to the Bruins. A great defenseman who adapts more and more to this league every year. In this regard, Nikita’s career is progressing. He performed well in Vancouver and now a new interesting scene awaits him. Boston is an interesting and cool organization, the city is beautiful there. Zadorov’s prospects are excellent.

— What do you think about the result of the Stanley Cup Final?

— I didn’t have any premonitions until the seventh game. But I was rooting for Florida, where many Russians were playing. Although I also have many acquaintances in Edmonton – the same Hyman or Brown, with whom I played on the same team for seven years.

I supported the Panthers, and in the seventh game the situation was purely “50 against 50”. It’s good that our boys won the Stanley Cup. The same Dima Kulikov has been playing in the NHL for many years and will soon play his thousandth game. A great pro, and now he has become a champion. Bobrovsky was an excellent goalkeeper for Florida. And then fate thanked him. Sergei won his first Stanley Cup, and for Volodya Tarasenko this is already the second trophy. A real fighter of the playoffs with a strong character.

— Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes, recognized as the league’s best defenseman, won the Norris Trophy. Is that an indicator of how your role has evolved?

— I think it depends more on the organization you’re in. Some clubs need two-meter defenders, like Chicago. That was true, at least last season. I don’t know what’s going to happen next.

But “Norris” is taken by Hughes, who has crazy skating, understanding of the game, mobility and equipment. Apparently, hockey is still evolving in this direction. My personal opinion is that a defender must skate well, be agile and fast. These are the basic skills of today’s hockey. Everything has changed a lot and it is not the same as before. Now everything is fast, mobile, creative – in general, SKA adheres to the same principles. This is the reality of the modern game.

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