Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nikita Zaitsev injured his knee worse than expected in January, Coach Luke Richardson revealed on Saturday.
Zaitsev also fractured a bone, so he won't be back until mid-March, despite starting off-ice workouts.
Nikita Zaitsev suffered not only a knee injury but also a bone fracture back on Jan. 16, Richardson said. He's progressed to working out in the gym and it sounds like he'll return sometime around mid-March.
The 32-year-old got hurt on January 16 against the Sharks and has missed the last 14 games.
He had two goals, five assists, and seven points in 26 games before the injury, averaging about 16 minutes per game.
