Hockey

Maple Leafs officially sign Nikita Zaitsev from KHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs officially signed KHL defenceman Nikita Zaitsev to a one-year entry-level contract on Monday.

24-year-old has 13 points in 20 playoff games

Nikita Zaitsev (22) of Russia signed a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs after months of speculation that he would come to Toronto after his season in the KHL concluded. (Maxim Shipenkov/EPA)

The Toronto Maple Leafs officially signed KHL defenceman Nikita Zaitsev to a one-year entry-level contract on Monday.

The 24-year-old Moscow native had 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) and 20 penalty minutes in 46 games with CSKA Moscow this past season.

Zaitsev also had 13 points (4-9) in 20 playoff games.


He will play for Russia at the upcoming IIHF world hockey championship.