Friedman: Nikita Zaitsev has requested a trade from Toronto

[4thline]

If he was worth every penny of his contract as no doubt, sure fire high end 4RHD he'd have massive trade value with his term.

He's not, he's a 4-5 with questions and inconsistencies in his game, maybe a million over paid. That million overpayment isn't so massive that it erases the value of a 4-5 RHD in a league starving for them and turns him into a completely negative asset/ cap dump. Definitely brings the value down, making him a good buy low target in a pretty sparse market

 

[Marlo Stanfield]

Vancouver or Ottawa are the only ones who can likely help you in this case (assuming non-retention on your end)

 

[Captain Mountain]

That was under Lou. Can Dubas relocate that?

Clarkson was actually Dubas (when he was sharing duties with Hunter, before Lou).

 

[StuckOutHere]

Erik Gudbranson is still viewed as a dman that has value. Someone will trade for Zaitsev.

 

[TruGr1t]

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

I could definitely see the Canucks front office looking at this, but it wouldn't be for anything around Tanev. Though Zaitsev doesn't fit the typical defensemen type Benning targets (usually large, slow, defensive guys).

 

[rocketdan9]

I think Zaitsev actually finished the regular season strong and had a very good playoffs. He just had no chemistry with Jake Gardiner and unfortunately Mike Babcock really forced it.

Didnt he pair with Muzzin?

 

[780il]

Lol... Good luck

 

[FerrisRox]

I actually don't mind Zaitsev... his contract has a NTC tho?(I think, with expansion coming kinda dangerous) that would be the bigger fear.

A No Trade Clause is not an issue for the Expansion Draft, only a No Movement Clause causes problems.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Basically Dubas is asking the league if someone can PLEASE take zaitsev off his hands, even though he is awful with a bad contract so he can sign his other young players that need massive raises

 

[MyBudJT]

I actually don't mind Zaitsev... his contract has a NTC tho?(I think, with expansion coming kinda dangerous) that would be the bigger fear.

I wouldn't pay much for him as far as assets go, but I wouldn't mind taking him in... hed be the 2nd best RHD on our roster... by default but whos counting.

I like Zaitsev, he's just about 750K overpaid.

If you want a #4 for 4.5 mil, give us a 4th and we'll be happy!

 

[A1LeafNation]

If he goes back to Russia, Leafs get out of his cap hit.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Erik Gudbranson is still viewed as a dman that has value. Someone will trade for Zaitsev.

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

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

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

 

[Deadly Dogma]

Lol... Good luck

Sekera, Russel same thing

 

[HOPE]

btu the leafs doesn't have their 1st round pick anymore...

 

[AvatarAang]

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

if that were remotely true this thread wouldn't exist. take off the homer goggles, zaitsev is a cap dump.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

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

Agreed. Not nearly the tire fire that people make him out to be. Looked much better once Muzzin came in. He needs a different coach in all honesty.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

As a Leaf fan all I have to say is: good luck with that. He's not as bad as a lot of people (especially some Leaf fans) make him out to be, but even with that said, he's still not very desirable at all with that term especially.

 

[Bond]

Zaitzev + Kadri for ??
Zaitzev + Kapanen + Johnsson for ??

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

A No Trade Clause is not an issue for the Expansion Draft, only a No Movement Clause causes problems.

Oh so he doesn't take up a protection spot?

 

[FourRings]

I actually don't mind Zaitsev... his contract has a NTC tho?(I think, with expansion coming kinda dangerous) that would be the bigger fear.

I wouldn't pay much for him as far as assets go, but I wouldn't mind taking him in... hed be the 2nd best RHD on our roster... by default but whos counting.

Yeah, I saw that modified-NTC as well; that's tough.

 

[SoundAndFury]

In other news, water is wet.

 

[shortfuze]

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

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.

 

[FerrisRox]

Oh so he doesn't take up a protection spot?

Not unless he has a NMC and they couldn't possibly have been stupid enough to give him that.

 

[Martin Skoula]

I was being sarcastic.

The notion the Canucks would give up a valuable piece like Tanev and get a toxic third pairing cap dump signed for five more seasons in return is beyond idiotic.

Oh wow.

What part about Tanev is valuable again? His inability to play more than 60 games? Or his comically bad possession metrics and complete lack of offense?