Speculation: Moving Defense for Cap Space

[Advanced stats]

One of Kappy or Johnsson still needs to go to fit Marner

Not true. Zaitsev and brown have to go to fit Marner, Kapanen and johnny

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[traffic cone]

Not true. Zaitsev and brown have to go to fit Marner, Kapanen and johnny

Trading Zaitsev - a right-handed defenseman - would be lunatic just to keep the offense bolstered. Zaitsev may be a bit overpaid, but he fills a big need.

Kapanen and Johnsson are luxuries (as well as Brown). All of those guys should be moved before Zaitsev - if the cap demands that. Brown first, of course.

 

[The CyNick]

Trading Zaitsev - a right-handed defenseman - would be lunatic just to keep the offense bolstered. Zaitsev may be a bit overpaid, but he fills a big need.

Kapanen and Johnsson are luxuries (as well as Brown). All of those guys should be moved before Zaitsev - if the cap demands that. Brown first, of course.

Cap will demand it guaranteed. I agree Brown will be first, but he's not enough. Someone else needs to go.

 

[Gallagbi]

Trading Zaitsev - a right-handed defenseman - would be lunatic just to keep the offense bolstered. Zaitsev may be a bit overpaid, but he fills a big need.

Kapanen and Johnsson are luxuries (as well as Brown). All of those guys should be moved before Zaitsev - if the cap demands that. Brown first, of course.

Z is a bottom pair defenseman who is heavily overpaid.

 

[traffic cone]

Z is a bottom pair defenseman who is heavily overpaid.

Zaitsev fills a bigger need for the Leafs than Brown, Johnsson or even Kapanen. Overpaid or not.

You could argue that he shouldn't be traded because there would be nothing coming back and he fills a need. And he could still get his game to the level it was before he signed that contract of his.

 

[Gallagbi]

Zaitsev fills a bigger need for the Leafs than Brown, Johnsson or even Kapanen. Overpaid or not.

You could argue that he shouldn't be traded because there would be nothing coming back and he fills a need.

He really doesn't fill a need for this team. You replace him with a similar player at half the cost

 

[Warden of the North]

Zaitsev fills a bigger need for the Leafs than Brown, Johnsson or even Kapanen. Overpaid or not.

You could argue that he shouldn't be traded because there would be nothing coming back and he fills a need. And he could still get his game to the level it was before he signed that contract of his.

We could sign a bottom pairing defenseman to fill the void at a 1/4 of the price.

Hes not good.

 

[aingefan]

He really doesn't fill a need for this team. You replace him with a similar player at half the cost

There are not tons of RD available at half his cost tho.

 

[MyBudJT]

We could sign a bottom pairing defenseman to fill the void at a 1/4 of the price.

Hes not good.

He really doesn't fill a need for this team. You replace him with a similar player at half the cost

Like who?

Also, if utilized correctly, I'd suggest Zaitsev is a 2nd pairing D.

 

[Gallagbi]

There are not tons of RD available at half his cost tho.

You're looking at a half dozen similar level players who all likely come in under 2.5, some will be well under 2.

 

[Gallagbi]

Like who?

Also, if utilized correctly, I'd suggest Zaitsev is a 2nd pairing D.

What's his proper usage? He struggled with puck movers, he struggled with Muzzin. He's struggled everywhere. Basically he's a PK specialist (specialist is probably too kind) and a bottom pairing.

 

[Advanced stats]

There are not tons of RD available at half his cost tho.

There's actually a good amount of 4/5/6 RHD defenseman, a few that I've been pushing for. Gunnersson or someone similar would be a great addition on the cheap

 

[A1LeafNation]

What's his proper usage? He struggled with puck movers, he struggled with Muzzin. He's struggled everywhere. Basically he's a PK specialist (specialist is probably too kind) and a bottom pairing.

Uhh he was great with Muzzin.

 

[MyBudJT]

What's his proper usage? He struggled with puck movers, he struggled with Muzzin. He's struggled everywhere. Basically he's a PK specialist (specialist is probably too kind) and a bottom pairing.

Zaitsev has a long history of playing better in Russia or for Russia. He killed it at last year's WHC for instance.

I think we also saw a better version of Zaitsev when he was paired with Muzzin. Gardiner wasn't a good partner for him.

 

[Gallagbi]

There's actually a good amount of 4/5/6 RHD defenseman, a few that I've been pushing for. Gunnersson or someone similar would be a great addition on the cheap

Gunnar is a LD.

 

[Advanced stats]

What's his proper usage? He struggled with puck movers, he struggled with Muzzin. He's struggled everywhere. Basically he's a PK specialist (specialist is probably too kind) and a bottom pairing.

Um, I had no concerns with muzzin - Zaitsev, and I thought that was the general consensus.

Zaitsev has always been a puck mover forced to play a defensive role, except for his rookie season.

 

[Gallagbi]

Uhh he was great with Muzzin.

...except when he had the puck...or had to think...or faced a rush. Solid in the corner though

 

[MyBudJT]

There's actually a good amount of 4/5/6 RHD defenseman, a few that I've been pushing for. Gunnersson or someone similar would be a great addition on the cheap

Gaunnarsson is a LHD.

Outside of Myers and Stralman, there is nobody we could realistically target that would replace Zaitsev (in the free agency market)

 

[Gallagbi]

Um, I had no concerns with muzzin - Zaitsev, and I thought that was the general consensus.

Zaitsev has always been a puck mover forced to play a defensive role, except for his rookie season.

He's awful with the puck. Easily our worst puck mover

 

[Warden of the North]

Uhh he was great with Muzzin.

"Great" is a bit of a stretch.

He was barely adequate. And thats probably because Muzzin is great.

 

[Advanced stats]

Gunnar is a LD.

I heard he played RD recently in St Louis?

Second guessing that now though, you're probably correct.

 

[Warden of the North]

Gaunnarsson is a LHD.

Outside of Myers and Stralman, there is nobody we could realistically target that would replace Zaitsev (in the free agency market)

Liljegren is probably ready for bottom pair minutes.

 

[MyBudJT]

Liljegren is probably ready for bottom pair minutes.

That could be an option... but I could also see us keeping Zaitsev as a 2nd pairing guy, and having Liljegren playing 3rd pair. In a couple years you flip Ziatsev to promote Liljegren (if Liljegren earned more minutes).

I don't see Liljegren as a Zaitsev replacement since we probalby can't rely on him to fill in the PK minutes right away.

 

[IBeL34f]

I know this isn't the place for it, but I'd happily bring back Hainsey for a year.

Muzzin - Rielly
Dermott - Hainsey
Rosen - Liljegren

I know a lot of folks wouldn't like that group, but I'd be comfortable with it, and could see it surprising some people.

As for Mikheyev, I'm always down for a free wallet.

 

[aingefan]

You're looking at a half dozen similar level players who all likely come in under 2.5, some will be well under 2.

Not sure who those half- dozen guys are, but the RD problem is league wide, not just the leafs, so demand will exceed supply and I’ll predict fewer low cost signings.
I’ve seen projections that Ron Hainsey could get three years again at similar AAV, and he’s 39.
That’s why I like the UFA euro guys. ELC options.