Confirmed with Link: Maple Leafs re-sign Nikita Zaitsev for 7 years, $4.5M per

[MapleLeafs9]

Nice. Thought it was going to be 5+

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[purplehaze89]

[Leafs PR] - Leafs sign Zaitsev to 7 year extension 4.5 mill AAV

This contracts a little bit long....

 

[SprDaVE]

Not bad at all.

Ben Smith was also re-signed for 1 year.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Basically Z gets Jake's contract - with 2 more years. really can't complain.

 

[PeeBee78]

Good value....he has to work on his +/- next year....

 

[Leafidelity]

Sweet deal.

 

[StevenB]

Nice. Thought it was going to be 5+

I like it. 4.5M for a top 4 defender isn't bad, plus it'll probably help us attract other big name Russian FA's in the future who want to transition to NHL

 

[Atomos2]

Hopefully he is worth the money. Giving that deal based on one year of play is risky. I hope he's worth it.

 

[93LEAFS]

Fine with it, would have preferred it closer to 4, but either way he's a key piece we couldn't afford to lose. I expect him to solidify his game a bit more next year after a year of adjustment and the team having more stability.

 

[Schenn]

Nice. Glad he was brought back. I think this could turn out to be a great deal.

 

[Raymoondo]

Not bad at all.

Ben Smith was also re-signed for 1 year.

Expansion draft fodder?

 

[The CyNick]

Scary

 

[Pzz]

Long term contracts always make me nervous. However, if z continues to develop under babs I will love this in no time. Was nervous when the kadri deal was announced and now it's basically grand larceny. Here's to the same outcome

 

[Canada4Gold]

Yay!

Ben Smith also signed so that makes it official I guess. Matt Martin will be protected. No reason to do it otherwise. Besides for the fact that Babcock loves him for some strange reason

 

[SoVi3t]

This is pretty much the contract I wanted. I was hoping for 4m-4.5m a year for 7 years. Now we have a good D with a good contract, locked up for a long ass time. Even if he is as trade bait in a few years, this will be a great contract.

 

[stickty111]

Yup I am fine with this. Its a good thing managment didnt fall for the "what have you done for me lately" crowd.
A very good d man who is right now a #3 IMO and could be more in the future. Solid contract

 

[saltming]

 

[Al14]

I'll take it! Hopefully, he gets better and doesn't regress with this deal!

 

[Glenn Isildur Healy]

That's really long but we get him cheap for the duration of his prime

 

[klamla]

What are people's opinions on Z's ceiling?

I like the contract if he can continue to develop. Last year was a great year, considering it was his first in NA.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

4.5 is a steal. People are willing to give Alzner/Shatty 6+ mil per. Zaitsev is better than both.

 

[Jozay]

I dont mind.

Only thing im slightly concerned about is that concussion. Im sure he'll be fine, but sometimes some guys just dont bounce back from it. Hopefully he will lol

 

[Duffman955]

He was amazing early in the season but his play trailed off at the end. Probably due to fitness.

Really like the deal. Hopefully he can develop further

 

[Cor]

Good deal!

 

[DJIncognito]

Really like this deeal. Locked up at a good cap hit for what he does plus may get better