Ottawa prospect Alexander Nikulin finally got his wish.
The Senators traded the disgruntled forward to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for defenceman Drew Fata.
The 23-year old Nikulin told the Senators last week that he will return to Russia if they didn't have a deal in place by today.
Originally selected by the Senators in the fourth round (122nd overall) in the 2004 NHL entry draft, he had 14 goals and 36 assists in 71 games for the baby Sens last season. Prior to coming to North America, Nikulin played for five seasons with CSKA Moscow.
Fata, 25, has played in seven games this season with Phoenix's American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, where he has recorded no points and six penalty minutes. He signed with Phoenix as a free agent on July 2, 2008.
Fata split the 2007-08 campaign between the New York Islanders and their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In 71 games with the Sound Tigers, he scored three goals and added 11 assists, while recording 197 penalty minutes. He also played in a career-high five games with the Islanders, recording one assist and four penalty minutes.
