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

[leafsfuture]

nice, i think it was don cherry who was upset that they didnt sign him yet or something along those lines. you know he's good when even don cherry likes him

Um lol wut?

I think you need to re-watch Coachs Corner

 

[Muston Atthews]

Get him throughout his prime, beauty. Him, Reilly and Gards locked up for 13.5, beauty. Should help us getting talent from overseas as well.

 

[thewave]

That's not awful but also not good. It sucks that a player like Zaitsev got 7 years.

He did pretty damn good for a rookie. The K is very different, he had to adjust and the keep up as a top pairing guy and not look like a tire fire. He wasn't. If anything there is only upside in him based on the eye test skill I see.

 

[member 262271]

Great deal, I like it. Don Cherry and Debbie downers in general likely will not.

 

[Pi]

Put up 36 points and he didn't even look that comfortable offensively.

I think he could have some 45-50 point seasons ahead of him.

Putting up points doesn't mean anything. Schultz had like 50 points, no one will give him a 7 year deal.

Zaitsev has been a negative possession player. I'm not sure he's worth a long term deal. We should have bridged him.

I'd rather pay 3M per for two years before finding out what we are getting.

Does anyone know what we can expect from Zaitsev next season? No one knows really.

 

[Buds17]

Was initially surprised by the term when this was first rumoured, but I think this will work out fine.

 

[6ix]

Babcock obviously believes in him, cuz if he didn't we wouldn't have signed him for 7 years. So if babs believes in him I believe in him.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Wooooof. Zaitsev got term! Good for him, and that cap hit is more than fair. Glad he'll be sticking around for the next while.

 

[Muston Atthews]

Putting up points doesn't mean anything. Schultz had like 50 points, no one will give him a 7 year deal.

Zaitsev has been a negative possession player. I'm not sure he's worth a long term deal. We should have bridged him.

I'd rather pay 3M per for two years before finding out what we are getting.

Does anyone know what we can expect from Zaitsev next season? No one knows really.

3m for 2 years playing top pairing on a playoff team would net him a HUGE pay day. Unless he completely bombs which I don't see happening.

 

[ACC1224]

Putting up points doesn't mean anything. Schultz had like 50 points, no one will give him a 7 year deal.

Zaitsev has been a negative possession player. I'm not sure he's worth a long term deal. We should have bridged him.

I'd rather pay 3M per for two years before finding out what we are getting.

Does anyone know what we can expect from Zaitsev next season? No one knows really.

Obviously Babcock knows what to expect.

 

[Animal]

Putting up points doesn't mean anything. Schultz had like 50 points, no one will give him a 7 year deal.

Zaitsev has been a negative possession player. I'm not sure he's worth a long term deal. We should have bridged him.

I'd rather pay 3M per for two years before finding out what we are getting.

Does anyone know what we can expect from Zaitsev next season? No one knows really.

Agreed, he's made a nice transition to the NHL but 7 years is so unnecessary. I would've rather given him two years at a higher salary to see if he's legit

 

[BertCorbeau]

Riskiest contract the Shanaplan has signed so far.

Solid AAV but the term is a gamble.

Oh well - two top 4 defenders locked long term for $9.5 mill isn't bad!

 

[Steven1562]

Putting up points doesn't mean anything. Schultz had like 50 points, no one will give him a 7 year deal.

Zaitsev has been a negative possession player. I'm not sure he's worth a long term deal. We should have bridged him.

I'd rather pay 3M per for two years before finding out what we are getting.

Does anyone know what we can expect from Zaitsev next season? No one knows really.

The minute you find out that Zaitsev has more potential he's gonna ask for 6-7 million. I would rather eat the 4.5 and take the risk.

 

[Muston Atthews]

Riskiest contract the Shanaplan has signed so far.

Solid AAV but the term is a gamble.

Oh well - two top 4 defenders locked long term for $9.5 mill isn't bad!

Gardiner, Reilly and Zaitsev for a solid 13.5

 

[Daisy Jane]

Putting up points doesn't mean anything. Schultz had like 50 points, no one will give him a 7 year deal.

Zaitsev has been a negative possession player. I'm not sure he's worth a long term deal. We should have bridged him.

I'd rather pay 3M per for two years before finding out what we are getting.

Does anyone know what we can expect from Zaitsev next season? No one knows really.

and if you bridged him, he would have gone back to Russia.

 

[Animal]

Babcock obviously believes in him, cuz if he didn't we wouldn't have signed him for 7 years. So if babs believes in him I believe in him.

Babcock also believes in Matt Martin and Ben Smith, yet only played Leivo when he had no choice

 

[Pi]

Riskiest contract the Shanaplan has signed so far.

Solid AAV but the term is a gamble.

Oh well - two top 4 defenders locked long term for $9.5 mill isn't bad!

If Zaitsev is making 4.5M, Gardiner is either going to cost us a fortune or won't play for the Leafs in 2 years. Hopefully Zaitsev improves to take care of the hole losing Gardiner would create and we have someone to take Zaitsev's role.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Putting up points doesn't mean anything. Schultz had like 50 points, no one will give him a 7 year deal.

Zaitsev has been a negative possession player. I'm not sure he's worth a long term deal. We should have bridged him.

I'd rather pay 3M per for two years before finding out what we are getting.

Does anyone know what we can expect from Zaitsev next season? No one knows really.

Bridging him means he might not be re-signed when you consider who else is up for a new contract at that time.

I would have preferred 5 years myself but I think rolling the dice in this case is a better bet.

 

[CanadasTeam]

Zaitsev is ours!

 

[zeke]

beautiful.

so nice to have an FO that ignores +/- completely.

that's good management.

 

[ACC1224]

If Zaitsev is making 4.5M, Gardiner is either going to cost us a fortune or won't play for the Leafs in 2 years. Hopefully Zaitsev improves to take care of the hole losing Gardiner would create and we have someone to take Zaitsev's role.

Gardiner will get paid no matter what Zaitsev is being paid.

 

[fahad203]

I don't mind this deal. Z is almost home grown player.

He's part of the core in my eyes. He didn't look that good in late season. I think most people forget he played a lot of games this year. From WC to playoffs. He's still a rookie and getting used to NHL

I think he'll be really good for the Leafs in years to come

 

[Pi]

Obviously Babcock knows what to expect.

Babcock also played Matthews with Hyman and Brown for 40+ games, played Ben Smith and Soshnikov over Leivo (who we will lose to expansion most likely).

I hope Zaitsev can do better next year.

The dollar value is great but the term is a lot to take. You have to hope he has another level to his game.

 

[BertCorbeau]

If Zaitsev is making 4.5M, Gardiner is either going to cost us a fortune or won't play for the Leafs in 2 years. Hopefully Zaitsev improves to take care of the hole losing Gardiner would create and we have someone to take Zaitsev's role.

Gardiner will probably be a $2-$2.5 mill AAV raise .. Which could be manageable.

Gardiner's future with the team is still uncertain because of when he is a UFA regardless of Zaitsev's deal

 

[slozo]

I like the deal for the Leafs, and it's fair to Zaits. I would've hoped for/liked a shorter contract length, but I can imagine the push-pull of negotiations in terms of contract length and dollars.

Could be incredible value IF Zaitsev reaches his full potential - which I think is a top pairing d-man.