Friedman: Nikita Zaitsev has requested a trade from Toronto

[Langdon Alger]

Who plays RD next year if Zaitsev is moved? They already need a RD partner for Rielly, and Zaitsev was solid with Muzzin against the Bruins at least. How do you get 2 top 4 RD in one off-season?

You can have Cody Ceci. That fills one spot.

 

[LeafsLegendAkiBerg]

It was a joke dude, whoa relax.

The point is you can’t just dump him in front of some other GM’s arena and drive away laughing. It will highly likely cost something to move him, especially since you want to do it with no money whatsoever coming back.

Let’s not overlook that he said some fairly unkind things lately as well and a trade request doesn’t exactly do wonders for value. Couple that with Toronto’s biggest need being right handed defencemen and their only RHD of any consequence wants out... it’s not just the contract vs the player that’s leading me to believe his value is likely negative. Not enormously so, but Zaitsev+1st for 2nd realm.

I'm sure any trade would require some creative maneuvering/loss of assets but a late 1st for a 2nd is much more reasonable than multiple firsts + multiple top prospects. I know you were being hyperbolic but still.

 

[LeafsLegendAkiBerg]

I have a feeling when Babs' contract is up Keefe takes over the reins of the Leafs coaching staff.

That's what most people are expecting. There's a good chance Babcock doesn't reach the end of his contract at this rate.

 

[hector morrison]

I have a feeling when Babs' contract is up Keefe takes over the reins of the Leafs coaching staff.

That's a different topic and I hope it's sooner than that!

 

[canucks20]

How about you guys give us Quinn Hughes to take on Loui Ericksson. See how ridiculous that sounds.

Hughes and Liljegren aren't even close haha.

 

[CupofOil]

Zaitsev isn't that bad of a player but the 5 years of term at that cap hit is a tough one to swallow.

I don't know what Dubas is going to do. Even if he dumps Zaitsev's salary without taking salary back, they will only have three top 6 Dmen signed next season and around 8m of cap space assuming that Marner signs for 11m with Johnsson, Kapanen and at least 2 top 6 Dmen to sign. Yikes

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Zaitsev isn't that bad of a player but the 5 years of term at that cap hit is a tough one to swallow.

I don't know what Dubas is going to do. Even if he dumps Zaitsev's salary without taking salary back, they will only have three top 6 Dmen signed next season and around 8m of cap space assuming that Marner signs for 11m with Johansson, Kapanen and at least 2 top 6 Dmen to sign. Yikes

With a partner like Muzzin, Benning could maybe bridge the gap for them for a year - assuming Brown/Benning is revisited.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Against the Sens.....

Looks like I was right about that grain of salt.

 

[CupofOil]

With a partner like Muzzin, Benning could maybe bridge the gap for them for a year - assuming Brown/Benning is revisited.

That would make some sense for both sides.

 

[axlrose87]

I know that 5 more years at 4.5 is too high but player salaries are rising quickly.
For goodness sakes; Jeff skinner is about to get 9. No playmaking skills, no defence, no mean streak. Just a one dimensional scorer who averages less then 30 goals per year

 

[Pelle31]

Well if Toronto wants to eat $1.5 million per year for the next 5 years then there might be teams interested in him or Toronto is going to have to take back a bad contract back for at least 4 years.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Zaitsev isn't that bad of a player but the 5 years of term at that cap hit is a tough one to swallow.

I don't know what Dubas is going to do. Even if he dumps Zaitsev's salary without taking salary back, they will only have three top 6 Dmen signed next season and around 8m of cap space assuming that Marner signs for 11m with Johnsson, Kapanen and at least 2 top 6 Dmen to sign. Yikes

I agree. He is not bad. He's just miscast as a #3 or #4 because the Leafs didn't have anyone better to play that high in the line up. If he is placed as a 3rd pairing D man, his game will look much better. Obcourse the salary of 4.5M is the sticking point.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Then the Leafs won't be moving Zaitsev with 0 salary coming back. I don't think anyone can objectively look at his body of work over the past 3 seasons and say "I'd love to have him on my team for another 5 years and pay him 4.5 per season". He hasn't performed at the level of 3rd pairing defenceman and he's supposed to have positive trade value?

Leafs have lots of assets. Again, wet dream.

 

[hector morrison]

I agree. He is not bad. He's just miscast as a #3 or #4 because the Leafs didn't have anyone better to play that high in the line up. If he is placed as a 3rd pairing D man, his game will look much better. Obcourse the salary of 4.5M is the sticking point.

His numbers don't agree with your assessment! They aren't trading him and taking back anything stupid. He can retire and stay in Russia or play here and shut the hell up!

 

[Viqsi]

If we add Kapanen I think we should be able to convince CBJ to give us Jones

Just like how adding someone like Bjorkstrand to Wennberg will get us Auston Matthews.

He's not the hopeless cap dump he's frequently portrayed as (comparing him to Lucic, in particular, is asinine, and insisting that someone like Sandin has to be thrown in to move him is even more absurd), but he's not exactly a high-value asset right now either.

* * *​

Is Zaitsev that bad or is it just his contract? If he made 2.5 million a year would it be that bad? I guess my question is do you guys see Zaitsev as a top four guy who has a bad contract, or is he worse than a top 4 guy?

It's predominantly his contract. At $2.5m/year, he'd be more or less fine IMO.

 

[Viqsi]

I picture a trade where the Leafs take back a contract with a high cap hit that they can then buy out.

Zaitsev + Kapanen to CBJ for Wennberg + one of the CBJ RFA d-men (Clendening, Harrington, Murray)

Buying out Wennberg would only cost $440K against the cap, and the Leafs would get an NHL d-man to fill Zaitsev's spot.

Nooooope. We have no interest in taking on Zaitsev; there's no good place to play him. The Leafs cap escape trade that interests the Jackets involves Marleau.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Why do you think teams are in such a hurry to save the Leafs?

But will nothing happen?

 

[Liferleafer]

Looks like I was right about that grain of salt.

Meh, it was actualky an honest post, in the early 2000s, we had the most playoff success against the Sens. It's the same as the Bruins owning us now...

 

[hamzarocks]

Nooooope. We have no interest in taking on Zaitsev; there's no good place to play him. The Leafs cap escape trade that interests the Jackets involves Marleau.

What would be the price for Marleau? If he agrees to waive for Marleau are we getting assets back or is it something like Marleau+a mid pick for a 7th type of deal

 

[DatsyukToZetterberg]

Leafs have lots of assets. Again, wet dream.

Not to move a player like Zaitsev they don't. Bracco, Hollwell, etc. are not valuable enough pieces to entice someone to take on his contract. I guess you are correct so far as they have "lots of assets". Their assets aren't exactly worth much but they do have a bunch of them.

 

[Viqsi]

What would be the price for Marleau? If he agrees to waive for Marleau are we getting assets back or is it something like Marleau+a mid pick for a 7th type of deal

That's a different thread.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

The only question I have is how much salary does Toronto eat to dump him?

 

[7even]

"Hey you want this bottom pairing d-man signed for the next 5 years at 4.5M?"

Every NHL GM: "No"

Someone signed Kris Russel for half a decade. You think some dumbass isn't going to see "RHD who can skate" and swing on him? Lmao. GMs can't help themselves. Idk why we're pretending that they're smart.

 

[Torontonian]

Unfortunately, things get harder here on out with both Matthews and Marner having huge extensions kick in next year.

Agreed, personally I think its only going to get harder and harder for them if 3 players are making up more then 30 mill. While we have done a solid job at drafting so far, its only going to get harder finding gems in the 2nd to 7th round (assuming the leafs constantly keep trading their 1st for help at the TDL)

 

[Mick Jagr]

What has to happen for his contract to be "terminated" and Zaitsev allowed to return to Russia? That never seemed clear. Always seemed sneaky and underhanded, but the league has let it slide.