Friedman: Nikita Zaitsev has requested a trade from Toronto

[Jumptheshark]

Have a feeling he is going to Canucks in a deal for Tanev..

Are the leads adding a first. Z does not have much value

 

[Dahlin 2 Eichel]

Rather play Sobotka on Defence than have this guys cap hit.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I think people will be surprised to find out he doesn't really have negative value around the league

I

Nope.

If guys like Russel and Sekera have no value then neither does this guy using this boards previous logic

 

[Liferleafer]

I am just going to throw this in here...the only reason Z has been made available is because he requested a trade. But....when asked, Dubas stated that while the will try to honor that, Zaitsev may remain a Leaf as he actually has a role here.

Long and short of it? Leafs aren't about to get bent over just to make a trade...if a deal comes that works? Sure....but they aren't paying a massive price just to move him.

Now i know the responses will be "they will if they want to move him!!", but right now, he's their ONLY NHLRHD. Why would they pay a big price to move someone when that's already your biggest need?

 

[benedictTavares]

He didn't look that bad this year. I'm obviously not a leafs fan but I would not waste assets moving the guy unless I had to because of cap issues. He is nowhere near a 1-2 guy but as a borderline 4 most likely 5-6 he is not the worst.

 

[TBF1972]

Swapping Zaitsev with another bad contract is about the best case scenario for the Leafs.

Best case for Toronto is Zaitsev being ready to walk away from his contract and play in the KHL. This would give them some leverage in trade discussions with another NHL team. In all other scenarios I think GMs will ask for sweeteners from Toronto.

 

[SnizzNasty88]

Quite a gamble on a guy who never had played an NHL game.

He played a full season before signing that contract.

 

[TBF1972]

Why are they saving the leafs? Toronto needs cap space. Teams need Defencemen. Is he a little over paid. Sure. But teams want to help their own team. Not worry about saving Toronto. There’s a few small market teams that Zaitsev could help with the cap floor. Teams might actually believe they can turn this player around. Gm’s Take chances.

Name one team, which will have trouble to reach the cap floor (60 million). And there would be better options to do so. This argument (in bold) is not really valid.

 

[Liferleafer]

Best case for Toronto is Zaitsev being ready to walk away from his contract and play in the KHL. This would give them some leverage in trade discussions with another NHL team. In all other scenarios I think GMs will ask for sweeteners from Toronto.

Not gonna lie, i'm curious as to why he wants out. Can't be homesick...going to another NHL team isn't solving that....

 

[Habs Halifax]

Kapanen, Zaitsev, Leafs 2020 1st
for
Trouba

 

[TBF1972]

Didn't I read somewhere that he has an out clause and can just go back to the KHL?

I don't think he will get 4.5 million $ yearly to play in the KHL. If he is willing to walk away from that money ...

 

[CupInSIX]

I don't think he will get 4.5 million $ yearly to play in the KHL. If he is willing to walk away from that money ...

If he's unhappy, and he gets a 3m offer from a KHL team, he might choose happiness in his homeland.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

And the TO chaos continues for this offseason. It was already gonna be entertaining as hell to see what Dubas does with his RFA situation, but now Zaitsev wants out... Hurry up playoffs and end!!.. I want all focus away from the game and all on the NHL offseason

 

[hullsy47]

He signed after playing an 82 game season notching 36 points.

he a had a solid world championship
the personal reasons he has could be related to culture ,family I doubt its coach related,once he played with muzzin he was fine
he may end up in Ottawa DJ played him a ton

 

[Hunter368]

Kapanen, Zaitsev, Leafs 2020 1st
for
Trouba

Easy no freaking way from the Jets.....not even remotely interested in that deal.

 

[TBF1972]

If he's unhappy, and he gets a 3m offer from a KHL team, he might choose happiness in his homeland.

The numbers are a little outdated: Highest KHL salaries list leaks, with Kovalchuk and Datsyuk on top
But based on this numbers it is really unlikely a KHL team would offer him 3 million.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Oh man now we have to see absurd trade ideas involving Zaitsev

 

[Habs Halifax]

Easy no freaking way from the Jets.....not even remotely interested in that deal.

My hunch told me the Jets would not like it as much as the Leafs. Probably some Leafs fans who say no as well but not sure.

What's the plans with Trouba? Is he staying? If not, what type of return are the Jets looking for?

 

[Habs Halifax]

And the TO chaos continues for this offseason. It was already gonna be entertaining as hell to see what Dubas does with his RFA situation, but now Zaitsev wants out... Hurry up playoffs and end!!.. I want all focus away from the game and all on the NHL offseason

Leaf fans don't like it but this is a very interesting situation to watch. Pretending that this is normal is a massive stretch. Dubas and his "leave some money on the table" buddy in Shanahan will be tested big time

 

[Nino33]

KHL is implementing a salary cap, less than 14 million US for each team (I don't think the threat of players going to Russia for millions is much of a threat anymore) Season 2018-19: 25 clubs, a lower salary cap, and an ASW in Tatarstan

 

[TBF1972]

My point is, there will probably be worse deals signed in Free Agency this season, then what Zaitsev’s deal is. Zaitsev is a guy that traditional hockey folks love and 80% of GM’s are traditional based.

Lou loved Zaitsev. Babcock likes Zaitsev. Is it really that hard to believe there isn’t coaches or GMs around the league that also sees value in Zaitsev and may jump at the chance to add him for a low cost, especially if TOR tags in a prospect?

Frankly, it can go either way. Toronto got out of the Clarkson deal. They got out of the Phaneuf deal.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in Vancouver and Toronto takes back Ryan Spooner or Tim Schaller or something

Spooner and Schaller as the return would be problematic for Toronto. They diminish the cap relief without helping to fill the gap at RHD. Toronto would need an additional RHD with only 1,4 - 2.6 million additional cap space. Not likely.

 

[Garbage Goal]

There always seems to be a team willing to just save a team from a bad contract for very little, at least in the past. There's also teams out there with some pitiful blue-lines. I'm not sure Zaitsev necessary helps in that regard, but he's something to try at least if you're in that situation.

So I'll be surprised if they can't figure something out to get rid of him. The cap hit isn't that hard to deal with, it's just the length really.

 

[Garbage Goal]

If he's unhappy, and he gets a 3m offer from a KHL team, he might choose happiness in his homeland.

I don't know what KHL players get so I'm just gonna work off the 3M number and assume it's realistic.

He'd be leaving at least 7.5 million on the table if he left then because it's a contract with 5 years left. Even assuming that KHL contract is 5 x 3 mil.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Kapanen, Zaitsev, Leafs 2020 1st
for
Trouba

Trouba and what else?

 

[Leaf Fans]

Leaf fans don't like it but this is a very interesting situation to watch. Pretending that this is normal is a massive stretch. Dubas and his "leave some money on the table" buddy in Shanahan will be tested big time

I am not bothered at all.