Rumor: Canucks interested in Nikita Zaitsev?

[biturbo19]

Can someone help me.....has there ever been a d-man come out of the KHL in their mid-20's who ever amounted to a hill of beans?

Emelin comes to mind. Took his sweet time in coming over, and panned out as by and large a serviceable top-4ish defenceman on a playoff team. I think Nikitin came over late as well if i recall correctly, and was at one point, a bona fide "hill of beans" before turning to garbage, Medvedev has been...unremarkable, but something. And we're starting to see some Forwards make a splash with that sort of transition.

It's not a long list of great success stories, but the KHL hasn't been around forever either...and the number of guys who do actually make the jump late like that, is a pretty limited sample size to begin with. Don't think there's much point getting to wrapped up in some failures in the mix - it's a very "low risk" gamble for a team in the Canucks position.

Expecting a guy like this to come over and be a star who saves the day, is a fools errand. But a 24 year old RH shooting top-6 NHL defenceman "for free" would be a win for this organization, period. I really wouldn't worry about the scenario...ultimately it's about the player, not where they come from or how they get here.

 

[snizzbone*]

I think this really cuts both ways.

The Leafs already appear to have Reilly, Phaneuf, Gardiner, apparently Hunwick and a few others who play real minutes there. It's a bit more crowded than the Canucks blueline may be (especially on the RH side) next year..

None of them are left handed though. Rielly and Phaneuf do/can play the right side, but we know Babcock loves his righties on the right, lefties on the left.

Anyways regardless of where he ends up, looks like he could be an exciting player.

 

[Canuck86]

any update on this guy and if he is coming over to NA

 

[ginner classic]

any update on this guy and if he is coming over to NA

My take.....

80 percent chance he goes to Toronto
10 KHL
10 other - Not Vancouver

 

[Win One Before I Die]

He won't come to Vancouver. He will want to sign with a contending team like Chicago, and with an entry level contract he would fit.

 

[LeftCoast]

Emelin comes to mind. Took his sweet time in coming over, and panned out as by and large a serviceable top-4ish defenceman on a playoff team. I think Nikitin came over late as well if i recall correctly, and was at one point, a bona fide "hill of beans" before turning to garbage, Medvedev has been...unremarkable, but something. And we're starting to see some Forwards make a splash with that sort of transition.

It's not a long list of great success stories, but the KHL hasn't been around forever either...and the number of guys who do actually make the jump late like that, is a pretty limited sample size to begin with. Don't think there's much point getting to wrapped up in some failures in the mix - it's a very "low risk" gamble for a team in the Canucks position.

Expecting a guy like this to come over and be a star who saves the day, is a fools errand. But a 24 year old RH shooting top-6 NHL defenceman "for free" would be a win for this organization, period. I really wouldn't worry about the scenario...ultimately it's about the player, not where they come from or how they get here.

I think one big factor is that defensemen generally take longer to develop, particularly if moving from international sized ice to NA sized. For Euro D, time in the AHL is almost mandatory. But good Russian players tend to balk at going to the AHL.

 

[Josepho]

He won't come to Vancouver. He will want to sign with a contending team like Chicago, and with an entry level contract he would fit.

He's actually most likely to sign with Toronto.

 

[jonnygf40]

He's actually most likely to sign with Toronto.

Why?

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Why?

The Leafs were going out of their way to go after him last Summer and he has "friends" in Toronto apparently:

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2015/10/22/9586844/leafs-summer-recruit-nikita-zaitsev-thriving-in-final-year-of-khl-deal

 

[denkiteki]

Honestly if Benning somehow gets hime, i'll reconsider my opinion on Benning being a bad GM... probability of that is likely close to 0 tho.

 

[Nuckles]

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

Well...at least it wasn't the Hawks yet again.

 

[VanillaCoke]

Toronto still sux

 

[VanJack]

Sounds to me like the second coming of Nikita Nikitin or Denis Grebeshov....he'll fit right in with the Leafs.

 

[canuckfan75]

can we lease close this thread ........ clearly he is signing with the Maple Leafs

 

[LeftCoast]

can we lease close this thread ........ clearly he is signing with the Maple Leafs

With all of the press and highlights coverage he probably thinks the Leafs are a dynasty.

 

[lawrence]

not surprised at all.

now lets put this thread to rest. Otherwise the Laffs fans will feel special for once if we continue to think about this kid.

 

[ProstheticConscience]

Well, still speculation even if Friedman hears it. Not certain yet, despite the cred behind the rumour.

But then, anyone remember how well "The Monster" fared in TO? He's still just one player, and he'd still be signing in an even bigger sinkhole than here.