Confirmed Trade: [CHI/OTT] Nikita Zaitsev, 2023 2nd round pick, and 2026 4th round pick for future considerations

[NewEraGM]

Agree something is probably in the works, but I suspect this trade is more about freeing up payroll than cap space for whatever that next deal is.

Lol 13.5M in space wasn’t enough to do what they want to do?!?!

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

Why not? It's a young team on the upswing, with new exciting ownership on the way (Ryan Reynolds?).

New and exciting? There's currently up to 20 groups with interest with many feeling the Reynolds bid is near the bottom. You're spinning when the reality is an arena is years away and with the current one you guys are the worst attended team in Canada and near the bottom of the league.saying You're on the upswing when in reality based on the amount of Sens fans, you included, who coined the summer of Dorian the team has not anywhere near expectations.

 

[BergyWho37]

By gawd is that Erik Karlsson music ..

 

[discostu]

his salary after bonus would be $2.5M. They waited to trade him then, would have been less to add than now.

Unless there's less teams willing to add unnecessary cap hit over the summer, and then you're back to carrying an overpaid defenseman, and risk being able to add one that can contribute in the top 4.

Sens fans have been wanting the top 4 upgraded a long time and the inability to move Zaitsev has been one of the biggest roadblocks. A second round pick is a small price to pay to get rid of that issue.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Agree something is probably in the works, but I suspect this trade is more about freeing up payroll than cap space for whatever that next deal is.

Yes if they want to sign a top 4 RD and DeBrincat next year. Zaitsev had to be off the books cap wise.
As it is it will still be very tight.

 

[Michoulicious]

Would have been cheaper to trade Zaitsev this summer after his 2023-24 signing bonus was paid (assuming it is paid in July rather than later in the season).

Maybe they don't want to spend money.

 

[BLNY]

FC is the new "Player to be named later".

 

[NewEraGM]

The only way this makes sense is if they are bringing in 14M + in cap. If they already 13.5M in space, there would be no need to clear anything out if they wanted to bring them in someone for under that amount.

Even if they were going for Karlsson, they wouldn’t need to clear cap before doing it.
If it’s karlsson and Meier, then this makes more sense.

If it’s not that and this is just to open cap room, this is a dumb move.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Doesn’t make sense if it’s just clearing money.

He was already paid 2M bonus in July, which means he would have had like $1M left for the year.

If new Owners are paying $800M+ for a team, they will not give a f*** about $4.5M for Zaitsev next season.

This is PD clearing $ for their internal budget/salary cap to make a play at another D.

All about next years cap and a D and DeBrincat cap wise.

 

[Michoulicious]

Do you remember when Leafs fans were bragging that Zaitsev's deal was some kind of Lou masterpiece?

That was fun.

 

[sennysensen]

Should have waited until July 2 to trade him after the bonus is paid. Would have cost maybe a 3rd round pick.

Zaitsev has played better. He looks like a solid #6 defenseman lately, unlike last year and early this year when he looked pure AHL. Still massively overpaid.

This better not be the precursor to getting Zaitsev part 2; Paryko or Dumba.

Just sign someone in the offseason!

Pierre is trying to save his job by making the playoffs.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Chicago might even get something for him if they retain next deadline. He's not atrocious, just a bottom line guy at best.

 

[mouser]

How does the 4.5 cap hit get broken down. If they paid 2 million signing bonus.

They don’t readjust cap hits for contract bonuses when a player is traded. So if Ottawa paid the $2m bonus then traded Zaitsev before the regular season started they’d have $0 cap hit. While the team acquiring Zaitsev would have the full $4.5m cap hit with $2.5m in salary remaining.

 

[Eggtimer]

Hopefully it’s not to make room for Parayko . Blues don’t need any more 1sts or they will be very dangerous in the hands of Armstrong…. I could see the Blues going for Chychrun and Meier then .

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Chicago has invested in Seth Jones horrible contract so may as well get him some help while you can.

 

[Chainshot]

Interesting deal to move salary and shows that there will be future moves for both.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Still seems weird to me. That's a lot to give up when they could have just bought him out for like 2.75 a year for two years.

That’s exactly why
No room to do the signings they want

 

[mouser]

Should have waited until July 2 to trade him after the bonus is paid. Would have cost maybe a 3rd round pick.

Zaitsev has played better. He looks like a solid #6 defenseman lately, unlike last year and early this year when he looked pure AHL. Still massively overpaid.

This better not be the precursor to getting Zaitsev part 2; Paryko or Dumba.

Just sign someone in the offseason!

Pierre is trying to save his job by making the playoffs.

I do want to emphasize we don’t know when Zaitsev’s signing bonus is due. They’re not all paid on July 1st.

For example Carey Price’s 2021 bonus was paid on Sep 15th.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Chicago has invested in Seth Jones horrible contract so may as well get him some help while you can.

Different gms and different direction now

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Does this make OTT front runners for Meier?

 

[The Red Line]

Honestly, this is a great move for Chicago. I'm not a fan of the scorched earth rebuild, but if you're gonna do it, you gotta really do it and stock up picks.

 

[Golden_Jet]

New and exciting? There's currently up to 20 groups with interest with many feeling the Reynolds bid is near the bottom. You're spinning when the reality is an arena is years away and with the current one you guys are the worst attended team in Canada and near the bottom of the league.saying You're on the upswing when in reality based on the amount of Sens fans, you included, who coined the summer of Dorian the team has not anywhere near expectations.

Largest percent increase in the NHL
16,400
2300 ahead of Winnipeg
To bad you didn’t check the facts

 

[jfhabs]

Not too bad for Chicago, they get a 2nd that's kind of early and Zaitsev can help them tank this year and next!!!

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Dorian just seems like one of those general managers that always changes his mind as to what direction he’s going.

He was rebuilding but didn’t seem to fully finish rebuilding the Senators and now he’s spending draft picks like a drunken sailer trying to get rid of salary probably due to new incoming ownership plus upcoming extensions for next season.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I do want to emphasize we don’t know when Zaitsev’s signing bonus is due. They’re not all paid on July 1st.

For example Carey Price’s 2021 bonus was paid on Sep 15th.

Good point, but if we go by last year
It was July 1

Edit: first couple of lines are part of mouser