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

[ACC1224]

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.

I'm sure he has justifications for all of those. We can guess at what those are, ie. Smith for expansion, Hyman/Brown to help Matthews defensively, but only Babcock knows for sure.

They weren't playing for last season only.

 

[Leafidelity]

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

I'll take the Jack Adams nominated coach over the HF coaching think tank.

 

[Walshy7]

Gardiner, Reilly and Zaitsev for a solid 13.5

yep.

#2 dman 22 yrs old still growing could end up a good #1 @ $5M x 5 more yrs
#3 dman 26 yrs old probably set as a high end #3 @ $4.05M x 3 more years
#3 dman 25 yrs old probably stays average #3 dman @ $4.5 x 7 more years

that is awesome value on our 3 best dmen with the other 3 possible choices being not even close to them

 

[leafsfuture]

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.

Matthews Hyman and Brown was VERY effective until Hyman went through that rough patch in Jan/Feb where he basically did nothing. Was a very good line at times and allowed Kadri to play with a legit top 6er in Nylander

Also, in a fourth line role Sosh > Leivo. Leivo isnt going to forcheck and bang. I completely get that

Also Ben Smith took draws. We didnt really have any better options. When Leivo can player Center, then call

 

[fahad203]

I'll take the Jack Adams nominated coach over the HF coaching think tank.

Most people don't get that Smith 40+ games will save us a young player. He was our only 4th line center option. Last I checked Leivo doesn't play center

 

[stickty111]

I'm sure he has justifications for all of those. We can guess at what those are, ie. Smith for expansion, Hyman/Brown to help Matthews defensively, but only Babcock knows for sure.

They weren't playing for last season only.

The fact he made those decisions yet still got us into the playoffs makes me believe he is a great coach and knows what he doing.

 

[Animal]

I'll take the Jack Adams nominated coach over the HF coaching think tank.

A Jack Adams doesn't make a coach exempt from criticism.....

Babcock is an amazing coach. But he makes some questionable decisions.

 

[Milzs]

This kid won KHL rookie of the year, attended 2-3 khl Allstar games in his 5 years in the league. Plays a very solid defensive game. Plays aggressive and doesn't give an inch which is what Babcock really likes about him. He put up close to 40 points in his rookie season. He can play in all situations including manning a power play or killing penaltys and is continuing to get better. Love this deal for the leafs. Everyone complains that the leafs need help on D. Then we sign a very solid one to an affordable longterm deal and people continue to complain. I'm not worried at all... In 2 years this contract will look like highway robbery. In Lou we trust.

 

[ACC1224]

A Jack Adams doesn't make a coach exempt from criticism.....

Babcock is an amazing coach. But he makes some questionable decisions.

Playing Matt Martin isn't questionable.

 

[fahad203]

A Jack Adams doesn't make a coach exempt from criticism.....

Babcock is an amazing coach. But he makes some questionable decisions.

Playing Hyman was a questionable decisions with Matthews

Ben Smith plays CENTER. Leivo Doesn't.
We needed a player to play 40+ games we so we can expose him to waivers. Otherwise we lose someone like the player you mentioned, Leivo

 

[Animal]

Most people don't get that Smith 40+ games will save us a young player. He was our only 4th line center option. Last I checked Leivo doesn't play center

I'm not sure you understand. It won't save us a young player, they already had two forwards to expose: Fehr and Martin.

 

[Nooodles]

ahahah good one Z!

 

[fahad203]

This kid won KHL rookie of the year, attended 2-3 khl Allstar games in his 5 years in the league. Plays a very solid defensive game. Plays aggressive and doesn't give an inch which is what Babcock really likes about him. He put up close to 40 points in his rookie season. He can play in all situations including manning a power play or killing penaltys and is continuing to get better. Love this deal for the leafs. Everyone complains that the leafs need help on D. Then we sign a very solid one to an affordable longterm deal and people continue to complain. I'm not worried at all... In 2 years this contract will look like highway robbery. In Lou we trust.

Out of all the management, this is not the management I question. I have full faith in them and their asset management.

Wait until the money Shattenkirk will get in UFA. Zaitsev's contract will look so good. I'll take Z over Shatty any day

 

[Pi]

I'll take the Jack Adams nominated coach over the HF coaching think tank.

"I'll take what the President of the United States says over what the media think tank says"

Just because you are a coach doesn't mean you are perfect. If that were the case, Babcock wouldn't have gotten tossed out of the first round so many times in his career as a coach of the Wings/Ducks.

 

[Animal]

Playing Hyman was a questionable decisions with Matthews

Ben Smith plays CENTER. Leivo Doesn't.
We needed a player to play 40+ games we so we can expose him to waivers. Otherwise we lose someone like the player you mentioned, Leivo

Again, not true. Matt Martin met those requirements, no need to sign Smith for expansion draft purposes

 

[fahad203]

I'm not sure you understand. It won't save us a young player, they already had two forwards to expose: Fehr and Martin.

They are not going to expose Martin Come on dude, Martin took a punch in the face for protecting Matthews. He's the reason why Matthews doesn't get run over every game
Why Marner didn't but fake tough guys in NHL

 

[Pi]

I'm not sure you understand. It won't save us a young player, they already had two forwards to expose: Fehr and Martin.

Our management is going to protect Matt freaking Martin over Leipsic and Leivo even though Martin doesn't have a chance in hell of getting picked from the Leafs

 

[TheProspector]

Signing a guy for 7 years in 2017 is saying, "We're going to win multiple Cups with you."

I don't see it, though. He was awful during the playoffs. And during the regular season: 49% CF%. <48% SF%. <49% SCF%. So it wasn't like his awful +/- was just bad luck/low PDO.

I get that he played big, tough minutes. It's true.

He played big, tough minutes, and folded like a *****.

 

[Animal]

Playing Matt Martin isn't questionable.

Playing Martin over Leivo is questionable

 

[Albert Iafrate]

I see the modern top 6 d-core as taking up 30% of the cap (ideally).

Cap next year: 76 Million x 0.25 = 23 million

So it breaks down:

Stud #1 - 7 million - ?????
Solid #2 - 5.5 million - Gardiner
Stud #3 - 4.5 million - Reilly
Solid #4 - 4 million - Zaitsev
Solid #5/6 - 2 million for both - Carrick/????

So, a touch high for next season, but a bargain in three years.

 

[Pi]

Signing a guy for 7 years in 2017 is saying, "We're going to win multiple Cups with you."

I don't see it, though. He was awful during the playoffs. 49% CF%. <48% SF%. <49% SCF%.

I get that he played big, tough minutes. It's true.

He played big, tough minutes, and folded like a *****.

I hate the deal but judging him while he's returning from a concussion is a bit harsh. I think the money is fine, the term is at least 2 years more than it should have been.

 

[Sniper99]

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

I believe in a coach that has won on every level in hockey over some random internet poster's thoughts.

Leivo will find his way on this roster soon. Settle down.

 

[SeenSchenn2]

I don't really understand giving a rookie who's 25 a 7 year deal... but hope it works out; he's solid.

 

[Animal]

They are not going to expose Martin Come on dude, Martin took a punch in the face for protecting Matthews. He's the reason why Matthews doesn't get run over every game
Why Marner didn't but fake tough guys in NHL

Sure, just like Matt Martin prevented Sestito from nearly taking off Andersen's head

 

[Albert Iafrate]

Signing a guy for 7 years in 2017 is saying, "We're going to win multiple Cups with you."

I don't see it, though. He was awful during the playoffs. And during the regular season: 49% CF%. <48% SF%. <49% SCF%. So it wasn't like his awful +/- was just bad luck/low PDO.

I get that he played big, tough minutes. It's true.

He played big, tough minutes, and folded like a *****.

Should you not consider sample size? Isn't that kind of important with respect to advanced stats? The dude played like 4 friggin games!