Ottawa Senators minor league center Alexander Nikulin recently gave the club an ultimatum: trade me or I'll return to Russia.

On Monday he got his wish as the Senators dealt him to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for defenseman Drew Fata.

It remains to be seen if this move will give Nikulin more playing time in the NHL, who has seen thus far only two games in the bigs and has spent the rest of his time playing in the minors since coming over to North American for the 2007-08 season.

Fata, 25, has seen action in only 8 NHL games with the NY Islanders before signing with the Coyotes as an unrestricted free agent last summer.