Friedman: Nikita Zaitsev has requested a trade from Toronto

[FerrisRox]

1. I have never claimed anything on Phaneuf. So don’t address my post as all leafs fans. I thought Phaneuf was an ok defenceman and a great leader. But they wanted out of his contract and made it work by acquiring short term contracts and not having to pay him for the remainder of his contract. People said it couldn’t be done because he had no value. Toronto gave up nothing of value and didn’t take on retention. In the end it worked out for Toronto.

2. Again I didn’t say **** about people say we couldn’t move him and we did. I’m not the GM and didn’t claim anything. A lot of fans were saying he had negative value but in the end he got moved and it benefitted Toronto.

3. And again by paying out the 30 million it benefited Toronto. They have lots of money and it was a move they could make. Other teams circumvented the cap and Toronto found a way they could do it. So stop whining.

Whining? I'm not whining, I'm laughing.

 

[FerrisRox]

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.

Both parties need to agree to walk away from the contract.

I would say its pretty unlikely he will agree to walk away from an $18 million contract.

 

[FerrisRox]

Why do you think it’s a worse contract?

Because Horton's career was over and his contract was completely uninsured.

 

[FerrisRox]

To Arizona: Zaitsev, Sandin

To Toronto: pick #45 in 2019

This is ridiculous.

Why would Toronto even consider this?

 

[danielpalfredsson]

Once again this thread will make a great gotcha that no one reads in a few seasons. So many toxic "neutral" fans. Wait until he goes to another team and gets used to his strengths instead of being asked to play as a shutdown guy due to need.

Wait, is this a Cody Ceci thread?

 

[Mosby]

To Arizona: Zaitsev, Sandin

To Toronto: pick #45 in 2019

Arizona has less cap space than Toronto.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

I've got a feeling he'll end up in Ottawa. DJ Smith connection? Sens have lots of bad short term cash.

Ben Harpur (725k cap hit x 1 year/800k)
Mike Condon (1.4M buried cap hit x 1 year/3M salary)
Zack Smith (3.25M cap hit x 3 years)

for

Nikita Zaitsev (4.5M cap hit x 5 years/1.5M salary in 19-20 after bonus is paid by the Leafs)

The deal would be cap neutral for the Leafs this upcoming season since Smith+Harpur take up two roster spots vs 1 for Zaitsev (or Smith could be buried for +1M). They'd then get out of 4.5M x 4 years.

Considering Ben Harpur might not make the roster out of training camp and is on a 1 way (Leafs could bury him), the Sens shed 13.55M in salary to subsidize the remaining 19.5M Zaitsev is owed.

Basically, Phaneuf to Ottawa part 2. Lots of short term money in exchange for a defender who is overpaid with too much term relative to what they bring, but might fit in on the Senators.

I'm not saying this is a good move for Ottawa. It's more of a prediction than a suggestion.

 

[Brett44]

Erik Johnson(50%) +16th+Kerfoot
For
Zaitsev+Kadri+Nylander

 

[Mersss]

This is ridiculous.

Why would Toronto even consider this?

Because no one is taking Zaitsev unless Liljegren or Sandin comes packaged with him?

Kind of the same deal CHI had to pull off w/ Bickell and Teravainen

 

[Toronto makebeleifs]

This is not news. Zaitsev can play defence, he actually was one of the better defenders in the playoffs (and I'm not a zaitsev fan saying this). He isn't worth the contract, but is a perfectly capable bottom pairing defenceman. that said, there are teams that would take him at a full cap hit without Toronto offloading assets to move him. It will be a deeply discounted price though, like a 5th and a roster spot.

 

[Michoulicious]

Arizona has less cap space than Toronto.

They have 20 players signed, and nobody of importance to resign?

Toronto has 17 players signed, and 3 major RFAs to sign + 1 top 4 RHD to find.

Not the same situation at all.

 

[Mosby]

They have 20 players signed, and nobody of importance to resign?

Toronto has 17 players signed, and 3 major RFAs to sign + 1 top 4 RHD to find.

Not the same situation at all.

Need to add scoring so it doesn't make sense to use what's left of the budget and cap to add Zaitsev.

 

[MoreMogilny]

Because no one is taking Zaitsev unless Liljegren or Sandin comes packaged with him?

Kind of the same deal CHI had to pull off w/ Bickell and Teravainen

Nah. You’re wrong. Leafs aren’t going to send either of them with Zaitsev. Far more likely the gain a positive asset in return than give up one of their two best prospects.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Leafs have lots of assets. Again, wet dream.

No logical link between this and the post quoted.

 

[NHL WAR]

Same here. He gets plenty of negativity on these boards due to his contract which is understandable. Unfortunately you get the sheeple that don't watch him play and run with the HF falsehood that he's a bad player, that's the take that makes no shred of sense to fans that watch and understand hockey.

Yup, he is an easy and often whipping boy, but looks real solid at times particularly in the playoffs. I wouldn't be surprised if he puts up decent numbers wherever he ends up especially if given more o-zone starts and PP time.

 

[Pelle31]

This is not news. Zaitsev can play defence, he actually was one of the better defenders in the playoffs (and I'm not a zaitsev fan saying this). He isn't worth the contract, but is a perfectly capable bottom pairing defenceman. that said, there are teams that would take him at a full cap hit without Toronto offloading assets to move him. It will be a deeply discounted price though, like a 5th and a roster spot.

If any other GM takes on Zaitsev contract without sending something back to Toronto or getting some picks or prospects they should be shot!

 

[Leaf Fans]

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.

They can mutually agree at anytime. Unconditional waivers are needed as far as I know.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

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...

I know.

I was almost 18 (July birthday) when the Leafs last won the Cup, so I'm aware of what took place in the early 2000s.

I hope for the sake of Leafs fans that their failure against the Bruins does not last as long as the Bruins' failure against the Canadiens (18 consecutive losses between 1943 and 1988).

 

[Toronto makebeleifs]

If any other GM takes on Zaitsev contract without sending something back to Toronto or getting some picks or prospects they should be shot!

For a team on a rebuild or a budget, cost certainty for a bit isn't necessarily a terrible thing. Obvs the contract to output isn't good value wise, but I don't buy into the sentiment that the leafs can only get fleeced to move him. HF hive mind is usually off by a fair amount.

 

[Mersss]

Nah. You’re wrong. Leafs aren’t going to send either of them with Zaitsev. Far more likely the gain a positive asset in return than give up one of their two best prospects.

Yah, cause we all knoe bottom pairing D'S paid 4.5M for 5 more years get you a positive asset right?

His performance doesn't get you anything valuable, especially w/ tht contract

 

[IGGY2JOHNNY]

Lots of talk about Vancouver looking for RHD. They have cap space. I’m calling Zaitsev to the Canucks. Something like Schaller (cap dump) + Goldobin.
Toronto seems to be on the hunt for cheap forwards with potential. I think Goldobin could be a good fit and could use a fresh start.

 

[Makar Goes Fast]

Erik Johnson(50%) +16th+Kerfoot
For
Zaitsev+Kadri+Nylander

you really think colorado is going to take on 19 million in cap on one deal?

 

[Pelle31]

For a team on a rebuild or a budget, cost certainty for a bit isn't necessarily a terrible thing. Obvs the contract to output isn't good value wise, but I don't buy into the sentiment that the leafs can only get fleeced to move him. HF hive mind is usually off by a fair amount.

Maybe or maybe not, if Zaitsev's contract was for only 2 years the Leafs would have no problem moving him without taking salary back or giving up picks. If the roles were reverse and Zaitsev was playing for another team which he wanted to get traded from, do you honestly would want the Leafs to trade for him without sending a bad contract back to that team. He's not a top 4 defenseman, he's a 5th or 6th defenseman who is overpaid by $2 million per year. I'm sure Dubas has spinned it to the media and other GMs that he requested a trade but everyone knows Dubas has to shed salary to resign Marner but it sounds better saying the player who Leaf fans would love to trade has requested a trade.

 

[Jets]

My bet is that it’ll be something like the Jets did with Armia & Mason for a nothing depth AHLer.

Zaitsev (30% retention) and Johnsson (RFA rights) for someone’s crappy 25 year old AHL depth guy.

 

[FerrisRox]

Because no one is taking Zaitsev unless Liljegren or Sandin comes packaged with him?

I don't think that's true.