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

[Macallan18]

i would argue because iin a cap world, people can easily try to make trade proposals etc?

i don't care either. I mean - i personally don't see the issue about giving him seven years. he's had 5 years of pro experience where he played really well. He came here and played relatively well with a small blip, and then an injury. I don't think they make this type of deal if they don't feel there is any kind of improvement and if it sucks, he goes back home anyway - and we don't have to pay him.

so. i'm not understanding why it's a big glitch at the end of the day.

How the salary is structured can be very important on buyouts.
Bonuses are not subject to the buyout structure, they must be paid regardless. That is the real reason the Clarkson contract was such poison, he was paid far more in bonuses than salary, so there was nothing to buyout. He gets paid almost everything no matter what.
So Zaitsev has a guarantee for 3 years of his 3 mil a year, and then at the end a guarantee of 2 mil for 2 years.
Has nothing to do with tradeability, or weighting of salary, all about impact on buyouts.

 

[BigBlu]

LOL. The term doesn't even fit on CapFriendly's chart...

 

[ACC1224]

just like most people do when they go sign a deal back in the K.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding but are you saying he will give up 4.5 million to take less in Russia because he doesn't feel he's good enough here ?

 

[Daisy Jane]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding but are you saying he will give up 4.5 million to take less in Russia because he doesn't feel he's good enough here ?

no...
I'm saying if it doesn't work out here - like a lot of Russian/international skaters, they'll probably just go back to the K (where they get paid) and we'll no longer have the cap hit on our books.

 

[egd27]

Cool. I can't wait until we lose Leivo/Rychel/Leipsic to Vegas so Babcock can keep Martin.

Lose:

A) A skilled player
or
B) A guy with 9 points who PROTECTS THE SKILLED PLAYERS

Easy choice for me but I guess I shouldn't be questioning since I have no credibility.

Put my player decision trust in:

A) Shanny / Lou / Dubas /Hunter / Babcock
or
B) A guy with 668 post on an internet forum

Easy choice for me but I have no credibility either.

 

[ACC1224]

Really? Because it seems to me that when we inserted Kapanen onto our 4th line it played the best its ever played. It wasn't because of Martin.

Also, if you don't think losing Leivo is a big deal then theres no point continuing this conversation because clearly we look for different traits in a hockey player.

As do the Leafs and the rest of the league.

 

[Battle Lin]

its a good deal, half mill less than rielly...zaitsev is a great defenceman...an athletes prime years are from 25-30, your still pretty good into your early 30s, we're getting his best years

 

[Animal]

Put my player decision trust in:

A) Shanny / Lou / Dubas /Hunter / Babcock
or
B) A guy with 668 post on an internet forum

Easy choice for me but I have no credibility either.

Damn we should shut down this message board then.... thought it was for debates but I guess every move the Leafs make we should just praise the management

Smart people with good track records sometimes make bad decisions. Crazy concept, I know.

 

[Joey Hoser]

Not sure what his ceiling really is, but a solid top 4 guy regardless. If you can lock one of those up long term for less than 5, take it.

 

[Walshy7]

**** it give him a extra mill on top!. Cherry isn't going to like that

 

[thewave]

Not sure what his ceiling really is, but a solid top 4 guy regardless. If you can lock one of those up long term for less than 5, take it.

4.5 for top 4 is par. If he ends up top 2 its just gravy.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Really? Because it seems to me that when we inserted Kapanen onto our 4th line it played the best its ever played. It wasn't because of Martin.

Also, if you don't think losing Leivo is a big deal then theres no point continuing this conversation because clearly we look for different traits in a hockey player.

And we ignore that Boyle was brought in at pretty much the same time to center that line? Martin plays a very important role that no prospect we have can fill right now. You still need some big physical players to get through the playoff grind.

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

A big contract for just a year of nhl play? lets see him rebound next year to see what contract he gets. I guess we are desperate for quality dmen so we had to sign him quick.

 

[Joey Hoser]

4.5 for top 4 is par. If he ends up top 2 its just gravy.

Having Rielly, Gardiner and Zaitsev locked up for less than 14 million combined, making up 75% of a top 4 is a really good spot to be in.

If they can't manage to land the type of quality, age appropriate defenseman we all want, they could overpay a short-term option to solidify that top 4 for the time being.

 

[rotem]

He won't be 40 like Shea Weber when his contract ends.

Or brent burns

 

[member 262271]

I want to drink all the tears from people who don't like this deal.

Okay, but save me a glass!

 

[Daisy Jane]

as this turned into a Matt Martin discussion.
I'd argue that Martin was lost for a good part of the year just like Czekias + Clutterbuck didn't have that same "pop") - but once Boyle + Kapanen were on that line Martin didn't look bad whatsoever (to me anyway).

So maybe if he's given some stability as he played with Smith, Goat, etc) - and some skill, he won't be as poor as most people are making him out to be.

or the leafs could easily trade him. like. thre are options.

 

[Joey Hoser]

A big contract for just a year of nhl play? lets see him rebound next year to see what contract he gets. I guess we are desperate for quality dmen so we had to sign him quick.

I think it's more likely that they actually believe in him, then the idea that they've succumb to desperation.

 

[Animal]

And we ignore that Boyle was brought in at pretty much the same time to center that line? Martin plays a very important role that no prospect we have can fill right now. You still need some big physical players to get through the playoff grind.

Boyle played 13 games as a Leaf before Kapanen showed up. Line was noticably better with Kapanen. I'm not advocating for a team consisting of 12 skilled forwards. I would just rather lose Martin and gain 2.5 million in cap space than lose a promising prospect

 

[Animal]

Anyways, I'm done talking about Matt Martin.

Zaitsev is a good player who I'm happy to have. Would've preferred shorter term at a higher cap hit. I wasn't part of the negotiations, maybe that wasn't an option. I'm fairly confident it will turn out to be a decent contract, I'm just hesitant with the term.

 

[member 262271]

So. let's review.

as is tradition. since Shanahan/Lou came on Board.
We trade Kessel - people hate it because Kapanen is nothing.
oh, look. Kapanen is doing really well.

We also get a pick.

Leafs use pick to get Andersen
OMG why are we doing that for Andersen. We should have been cheap and gotten Elliott - why would you sign Andersen. Look at his numbers.
oh, look. Andersen did well.

now it's Oh no, we signed Zaitzev to the exact same contract people were pleased as punch that Jake Gardiner signed with actual LESS risk because if he sucks, he literally could go back to Russia and it's no skin off our nose. Oh. and 3 million of it - is a signing bonus. so we're actually paying 1.5 million throughout the year. (first 3 years, none in 2020, 2021, and then 2 in the last 2).

I would think with the bevy of information the Leafs have that is not available to the public + how they want to use Z moving forward that it could be seen as a worth while risk. freaking out about it now - maybe we should take the kibosh to it (only because it tends to be all for nothing the last few times).

So much all of this. When the Leafs win their next cup there will still be people who complain how they didn't win it in a certain fashion.

 

[as Pure as Evil]

The term is what he asked for, He wants to move his family to Canada and this contract allows him to be confortable and stable for the foreseeable future. 4.5 for someone that transitioned nicely to the nhl . my only question is did they do any form of no movement clause or trade clause

 

[Loosie]

I am ok with this deal. good cap hit, and locks him up over his priem UFA years.

 

[Daisy Jane]

The term is what he asked for, He wants to move his family to Canada and this contract allows him to be confortable and stable for the foreseeable future. 4.5 for someone that transitioned nicely to the nhl . my only question is did they do any form of no movement clause or trade clause

2019, limited No trade (needs to list 10 teams he doesn't want to go to. or vice versa).

 

[Leafski]

Okay, but save me a glass!

Mmmmm, electrolytes.