Blue Jackets trade Nikita Nikitin to Oilers

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded defenseman Nikita Nikitin (nih-KEE'-tuh nih-KEE'-tin) to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded defenseman Nikita Nikitin (nih-KEE'-tuh nih-KEE'-tin) to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.

Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen (YAR'-moh kehk-uh-LEYE'-nin) announced the trade Wednesday. With the trade, Columbus re-acquired the 2014 draft pick that it had sent to Edmonton in exchange for defenseman Nick Schultz in March.

The 28-year-old Nikitin registered two goals and 13 assists for 15 points in 66 games with Columbus last season. He was acquired in a trade with St. Louis in 2011. He tallied 12 goals and 44 assists for 56 points in 158 games as a Blue Jacket.