Weekes: Senators willing to trade high pick or prospect to dump Nikita Zaitsev's contract

[JimmySpaetzle]

Yeah Weekes said we were close to an extension with DeBrincat in early October so I’m taking this with a grain of salt

 

[Altimus]

a line of Greig Ostapchuk Boucher could be the third line of the near future. Really hope none of them are part of this discussion.

 

[cgc83]

zaitsev should be sending a fruit basket every holiday to Lamoriello for that awful contract

 

[rt]

Hey, no worries, it’s not really something you would know unless you follow the Sens pretty closely. Not saying it was a good pick (at all) but it’s a similar logic as to what led to them picking Boucher 10th overall. It might be the wrong approach, but it seems like they are really focussed on building an elite, young 3rd line now that the top 6 is pretty much spoken for

I don’t follow the Sens closely. But I watched a fair bit of the Giants last season to get looks at Lysell as Chychrun was rumored to Boston for a while. I also read some of the hype leading up to this WJC (the Wheeler article was great) and have watched him at the tourney. He’s an impressive kid. Solid prospect.

 

[AZviaNJ]

Smells like the Sens want to trade for Chychrun to me but the Coyotes don't want to take on that contract dump. So the Sens are trying to move Zaitsev in a separate deal before they trade for Chychrun.

1st rounder to move Zaitsev and then what is left to get Chychrun? . Sens would likely put protection on that pick and that would complicate the pieces that goes to the Coyotes for Chychrun.

Interesting situation to ponder. Sens clearly want to move up the standings but do they make more moves this season or wait till draft day and the summer. We will see

GMBA has stated he’s willing to take on bad contracts. Zaitsev AAV is virtually the same as Chychrun’s, but Zaitsev has one additional year.

2023 1st (top 5 protected)
2023 2nd
Greig/Boucher
Zaitsev
2024 1st/Greig/Boucher (to take Zaitsev contract)

for Chychrun

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

a line of Greig Ostapchuk Boucher could be the third line of the near future. Really hope none of them are part of this discussion.

Ostapchuk and Boucher are 4th liners at best.

 

[mouser]

$2M bonus due this July is not ideal. He will be easier to move after July 1st when the Sens pay it.

I always want to emphasize that we don’t know when Zaitsev or any player‘s signing bonus is due to be paid. There’s rarely media coverage or knowledge of when a signing bonus is due. We saw reports with Carey Price his signing bonus was due in September (not July) after the Seattle expansion draft.

Ive seen other reports of players who have their signing bonuses paid in multiple installments such as half on July 1st and half on December or January 1st.

Assuming all signing bonuses are paid in July is a reasonable default approach, but we are often wrong.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I don’t follow the Sens closely. But I watched a fair bit of the Giants last season to get looks at Lysell as Chychrun was rumored to Boston for a while. I also read some of the hype leading up to this WJC (the Wheeler article was great) and have watched him at the tourney. He’s an impressive kid. Solid prospect.

Hard not to root for him. Not sure if the sky is the limit with him, but pretty comfortable he will be a solid middle 6er. I see a bit of Nick Paul in him, but a lot more comfortable in his body than Paul was at that age and a more refined all-around game. Doubt he will ever be as big and strong as Paul but a good deal of similar elements.

I always want to emphasize that we don’t know when Zaitsev or any player‘s signing bonus is due to be paid. There’s rarely media coverage or knowledge of when a signing bonus is due. We saw reports with Carey Price his signing bonus was due in September (not July) after the Seattle expansion draft.

Ive seen other reports of players who have their signing bonuses paid in multiple installments such as half on July 1st and half on December or January 1st.

Assuming all signing bonuses are paid in July is a reasonable default approach, but we are often wrong.

I was thinking about this earlier. Given Lou was the one to sign the contract, it adds another wrinkle of assumptions… would Lou go with the standard date, or do things his own, unique, Lou way?

 

[mouser]

I was thinking about this earlier. Given Lou was the one to sign the contract, it adds another wrinkle of assumptions… would Lou go with the standard date, or do things his own, unique, Lou way?

Yeah, Lou‘s history as a “stingy GM” would make me less confident in assuming all of Zaitsev’s 2023-24 signing bonus of $2m is being paid in July.

 

[Sens9292]

GMBA has stated he’s willing to take on bad contracts. Zaitsev AAV is virtually the same as Chychrun’s, but Zaitsev has one additional year.

2023 1st (top 5 protected)
2023 2nd
Greig/Boucher
Zaitsev
2024 1st/Greig/Boucher (to take Zaitsev contract)

for Chychrun

Yikes

 

[DatDude44]

This screams sabres to me. Need D depth and have the cap to spare. Maybe a change of scenery helps him get back to what he was when he signed the deal….and if not they still get the other assets and let him walk after next year.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I always want to emphasize that we don’t know when Zaitsev or any player‘s signing bonus is due to be paid. There’s rarely media coverage or knowledge of when a signing bonus is due. We saw reports with Carey Price his signing bonus was due in September (not July) after the Seattle expansion draft.

Ive seen other reports of players who have their signing bonuses paid in multiple installments such as half on July 1st and half on December or January 1st.

Assuming all signing bonuses are paid in July is a reasonable default approach, but we are often wrong.

Annual signing bonuses in Price's contract is tied to the date that he signed his contract. For UFAs, that date is often July 1st, but I'm sure there are other players like Price who extended prior to UFA/RFA status and therefore have a different date.

For instance, Zaitsev signed his contract May 2, 2017.

 

[mouser]

Annual signing bonuses in Price's contract is tied to the date that he signed his contract. For UFAs, that date is often July 1st, but I'm sure there are other players like Price who extended prior to UFA/RFA status and therefore have a different date.

For instance, Zaitsev signed his contract May 2, 2017.

There is no CBA date restriction on when signing bonuses must be paid other than they have to be in the league year the signing bonus is assigned to.

And Price signed his current contract on July 2nd 2017. One day after he was eligible for a contract extension in the final 2017-18 year of his prior contract. Montreal could have scheduled all of Price’s signing bonuses on July 1st if they wanted to, but didn’t.

 

[mouser]

There is no CBA date restriction on when signing bonuses must be paid other than they have to be in the league year the signing bonus is assigned to.

And after posting that, I remembered there is an exception. Players who sign their ELC's to start in the next upcoming season can have that first year signing bonus paid immediately.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I always want to emphasize that we don’t know when Zaitsev or any player‘s signing bonus is due to be paid. There’s rarely media coverage or knowledge of when a signing bonus is due. We saw reports with Carey Price his signing bonus was due in September (not July) after the Seattle expansion draft.

Ive seen other reports of players who have their signing bonuses paid in multiple installments such as half on July 1st and half on December or January 1st.

Assuming all signing bonuses are paid in July is a reasonable default approach, but we are often wrong.

Fair enough. We like to assume it's in July but not all the time. Cap Friendly should dig into those areas more but maybe it's info the owners don't want released.

There is no CBA date restriction on when signing bonuses must be paid other than they have to be in the league year the signing bonus is assigned to.

And Price signed his current contract on July 2nd 2017. One day after he was eligible for a contract extension in the final 2017-18 year of his prior contract. Montreal could have scheduled all of Price’s signing bonuses on July 1st if they wanted to, but didn’t.

It would be reasonable for owners to delay the payment as much as they can and the ideal spot (if they have to give the bonus payment up front) would be after season ticket sales come in. Nobody likes to hand out money before they receive revenue.

 

[Habs Halifax]

GMBA has stated he’s willing to take on bad contracts. Zaitsev AAV is virtually the same as Chychrun’s, but Zaitsev has one additional year.

2023 1st (top 5 protected)
2023 2nd
Greig/Boucher
Zaitsev
2024 1st/Greig/Boucher (to take Zaitsev contract)

for Chychrun

When did GMBA say it? Before or after going to this smaller arena?

Also, I wonder why the Sens are trying to move Zaitsev in a separate deal? Who are they trying to make cap space for? Seems reasonable that if they are after Chychrun, Zaitsev goes the other way in the package for cap reasons.

 

[hbk]

When did GMBA say it? Before or after going to this smaller arena?

Also, I wonder why the Sens are trying to move Zaitsev in a separate deal? Who are they trying to make cap space for? Seems reasonable that if they are after Chychrun, Zaitsev goes the other way in the package for cap reasons.

After BA knew they were playing in the Mullet this year and for a couple more years. He’s been very vocal about his plan. This summer he added Kassian and Nemeth and received 3x2nd rounders, a 3rd rounder , and swapped 1st rounders (moving up) in the process.

 

[uncleben]

There is no CBA date restriction on when signing bonuses must be paid other than they have to be in the league year the signing bonus is assigned to.

And Price signed his current contract on July 2nd 2017. One day after he was eligible for a contract extension in the final 2017-18 year of his prior contract. Montreal could have scheduled all of Price’s signing bonuses on July 1st if they wanted to, but didn’t.

I guess the only thing we can say with confidence is that this year's signing bonus will be paid by July 1, meaning teams won't have to pick up the tab for this year's bonus, in part or full. The hope is that next year's will also be fully paid by July 1, too, lol



Though, I feel like part of trading Zaitsev is due to cash considerations (my own speculation) and Ottawa will be much less pressed or concerned with trading Zaitsev, especially at a steep price, if they have to cover half the cash expenses anyway. I'm assuming if he goes, he goes well before any bonuses are due.

 

[JlindiesANA]

I guess the only thing we can say with confidence is that this year's signing bonus will be paid by July 1, meaning teams won't have to pick up the tab for this year's bonus, in part or full. The hope is that next year's will also be fully paid by July 1, too, lol



Though, I feel like part of trading Zaitsev is due to cash considerations (my own speculation) and Ottawa will be much less pressed or concerned with trading Zaitsev, especially at a steep price, if they have to cover half the cash expenses anyway. I'm assuming if he goes, he goes well before any bonuses are due.

In your opinion? Do you think the compensation goes up substantially because of the bonus? Or would the trade be already good enough on the compensation for just picking up Zaitsev. Because 2 million isn’t even that bad if you think about it.

 

[Captain97]

I always want to emphasize that we don’t know when Zaitsev or any player‘s signing bonus is due to be paid. There’s rarely media coverage or knowledge of when a signing bonus is due. We saw reports with Carey Price his signing bonus was due in September (not July) after the Seattle expansion draft.

Ive seen other reports of players who have their signing bonuses paid in multiple installments such as half on July 1st and half on December or January 1st.

Assuming all signing bonuses are paid in July is a reasonable default approach, but we are often wrong.

I agree, I think most would be payed in offseason time though for tax/residence purposes especially for American Players with homes in low tax states.

I'm betting most are dated July 1st since that's free agent day and that's the day most contracts are signed so it's just easy papaer work and players want the money asap.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

In your opinion? Do you think the compensation goes up substantially because of the bonus? Or would the trade be already good enough on the compensation for just picking up Zaitsev. Because 2 million isn’t even that bad if you think about it.

Why do other teams want him?

 

[JlindiesANA]

Why do other teams want him?

It’s for the compensation. But does 2 million bonus actually increase what’s going back to the team taking Zaitsev. I mean if it’s a 2nd plus B prospect just because of the contract. Does it goto a first because of the 2 million. That’s what I’m asking

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

Why do other teams want him?

They don’t want him in Ottawa and Ottawa is not at the top of the standings. So is he an upgrade?

I think teams say no even if they are in full tank. He’s not on an expiring contract

 

[Pinkfloyd]

It’s for the compensation. But does 2 million bonus actually increase what’s going back to the team taking Zaitsev. I mean if it’s a 2nd plus B prospect just because of the contract. Does it goto a first because of the 2 million. That’s what I’m asking

If the need for Ottawa to move Zaitsev prior to that bonus is that great then yes it can.

 

[Habs Halifax]

In your opinion? Do you think the compensation goes up substantially because of the bonus? Or would the trade be already good enough on the compensation for just picking up Zaitsev. Because 2 million isn’t even that bad if you think about it.

It's a double negative whammy. The player is not worth his cap hit and owners just don't like handing out money before the season starts. They will do it if they have to yes but lets not pretend they consider this meh and don't care.

What is the compensation? If you owned the team who is taking on that contract, you will be asking questions to your GM on if it's worth it or not. If the GM doesn't get good compensation in terms of a future that turns into a solid asset, the Owner/President will look at the GM's performance evaluation.