Coyotes Trade Fata to Senators for Nikulin
 

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have acquired center Alexander Nikulin from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Drew Fata.

Nikulin, 23, has scored two goals in five games this season with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL). Last season, the native of Moscow, Russia recorded 14-36-50 and 34 penalty minutes (PIM) in 71 games for Binghamton. He also appeared in two NHL games with Ottawa.

Prior to his AHL career, Nikulin spent three seasons in the Russian Super League, collecting 18-25-43 and 30 PIM in 100 games. He also represented Russia at the 2005 World Junior Championships and won a silver medal.

The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Nikulin was originally drafted by Ottawa in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft.

Fata, 24, has played in seven games with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) this season. In 225 career AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Bridgeport and San Antonio, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Fata has registered 9-33-42 and 600 PIM. He has also appeared in eight NHL games with the New York Islanders. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Fata was originally selected in the third round (86th overall) of the 2001 Entry Draft by Pittsburgh.

Hopefully, this will be a move for the parent Senators, because with Carkner, Bois, Bass, Zack Smith, and Yablonski, they really don't need toughness in Binghamton.

this move is gunna bite the coyotes in the ass Alexander Nikulin will ditch his contract here and go to the KHL..

Nikulin sounds like he probably won't last the rest of the season in North America. We can only hope that Fata gets a crack at some playing time with Ottawa, even if it might be a longshot.

That Kaigorodov trade worked so well, this surely prompted Phoenix to do this again.

Difference is we gave up Mike Comrie the first time, which was so stupid. But, this time we give up an AHLer. I don't see why this is sooo bad

Fata only had 6 PIM in 8 games. Not the normal Fata Im used to seeing

whats a nikulin?

fata can say hello to bingo and nikulin can say hello to a suspension from san antonio cause of his imminent flight over the ocean to russia.

It's worth more than a pennyin but less than a dimein.

Yeah, with all the kids on Phoenix's roster there's no way he cracks that roster this season.

lol well said.

wow, fata is one of the most hated players in this town. the incident with mcgrattan happened years ago but he's still called turtle here. this will be VERY interesting.