Oilers Place Nikita Nikitin on Waivers

The Edmonton Oilers announced earlier today that the organization has placed Nikita Nikitin on waivers for the purpose of assignment to the Bakersfield Condors. Scott Howson's man has been despised almost unanimously by the fanbase since he took to Rexall ice after the club signed him to a lucrative two-year contract in the summer of 2014.

The #Oilers have placed defenceman Nikita Nikitin on waivers for the purpose of assignment.

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 3, 2015

It was reported earlier this week by Sportsnet's Mark Spector that Chicago and Edmonton were working on a potential deal to send Nikitin to the windy city in exchange for Bryan Bickell and his weighty contract. When that didn't materialize, the Blackhawks put their man on waivers.

Yesterday, @SportsnetSpec reported CHI/EDM talked Bickell for Nikitin, but that fell through. Some tough decisions being made by CHI.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 2, 2015

For now, we'll wait and see if another NHL team takes a chance on Nikitin. Losing the player to waivers is a much better outcome than taking on Bickell's unfortunate contract.

No one from the MacT era is safe under the new regime. Rightfully so.