Friedman: Nikita Zaitsev has requested a trade from Toronto

[shortfuze]

Chicago had to pay Teuvo Teravainen to get rid of 1 year of Bryan Bickell at $4M.

The notion that the Leafs won't have to pay significantly to get rid of 5 (!!) years of Nikita Zaitsev at $4.5M is asinine. Pure delusion.

Just like clarkson and Phaneuf?

 

[koyvoo]

I’d imagine they’d have to give up something of some significance to get another team to take him off their hands.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Lets say that i disagree....

They have to add something to Zaitsev in order to move him.

I think I'd rather take one of those guys on for a more even price rather than pay Zaitsev $4.5M for the next 5 years.

I probably would as well but Toronto may not make any of those three available without that occurring.

 

[Zrhutch]

I honestly don’t know how Toronto resolves their situation and keeps Marner, but just getting rid of Zaitsev still isn’t gonna get it done.

 

[WingsMJN2965]

Chicago had to pay Teuvo Teravainen to get rid of 1 year of Bryan Bickell at $4M.

The notion that the Leafs won't have to pay significantly to get rid of 5 (!!) years of Nikita Zaitsev at $4.5M is asinine. Pure delusion.

Meh, it depends. Detroit dumped Datsyuk's last year at $7.5M with pick #16 and got picks #20 and #53 in return. I'd argue that even if you remove Datsyuk from the trade, that's still a good deal for Detroit.

With that being said, that was also Arizona, who wanted to reach the cap floor without actually paying, and it was only one year.

 

[780il]

Sekera, Russel same thing

Much shorter contracts... Russel can easily be moved if we retain like 500k

Sekera is a good option for the 3rd pair and to mentor our good young d prospects as they come up. He won't be moved, and it would be more difficult to move him anyway because his cap hit is higher.

 

[FerrisRox]

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?

Tanev is an excellent defensive defenseman who could crack any top six in the league. If you don't think he's valuable, I really don't know what to tell you.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Just like clarkson and Phaneuf?

Clarkson was dealt for Horton. Bad contract for a bad contract. Phaneuf returned a 4 mil Michalek that they ended up sending to the AHL. The other key difference is that those trades the Leafs didn't have any real cap concerns where they do now. They can't take a bad contract back because it defeats the purpose.

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

Meh, it depends. Detroit dumped Datsyuk's last year at $7.5M with pick #16 and got picks #20 and #53 in return. I'd argue that even if you remove Datsyuk from the trade, that's still a good deal for Detroit.

With that being said, that was also Arizona, who wanted to reach the cap floor without actually paying, and it was only one year.

This is more comparable to P. Marleau imo if he were to ever waive his NMC. And #16 for #20 and #53 can actually be a really good deal for a team if the guy they want is not going before #20.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Just like clarkson and Phaneuf?

You’re aware of all the short term cap dumps you had to take on to move Dion, right?

Hell if I’m not mistaken Toronto actually ADDED cap hit short term to move him.

With that in mind, Edmonton offers Kris Russell and Brandon Manning for Zaitsev and Bracco.

 

[WingsMJN2965]

They have to add something to Zaitsev in order to move him.



I probably would as well but Toronto may not make any of those three available without that occurring.

Fair enough, but they're not exactly in the driver's seat, asking somebody to take on a cap dump while their elite forward is asking for $10M+ in cap space they don't have.

 

[FerrisRox]

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

Even if he did ... why would he leave behind $18 million?

 

[BlueBaron]

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

I think Leaf fans are in denial about how big a role he fills. And yeah he gets the typical HF no clue value.

 

[StroShow]

Zaitsev + 2nd + Liljegren for Tanev

 

[McRpro]

Sekera, Russel same thing

Those two players don't have five years left on their contracts. Not the same thing at all.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Fair enough, but they're not exactly in the driver's seat, asking somebody to take on a cap dump while their elite forward is asking for $10M+ in cap space they don't have.

Well they do for Marner but not anything else beyond that.

 

[MyBudJT]

View attachment 232457

Don't believe me?

I posted this a couple days ago:

I think I'm one of the few here that wouldn't be upset if we don't trade Zaitsev. I don't think he's as overpaid as what people make it out to be. He's an effective #4 RHD, and when he's one, he's a really effective defensman.

 

[dubplatepressure]

I think if the leafs have to add someone like Kapanen just to get nothing back for Zaitsev, then there's no deal there.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Tanev is an excellent defensive defenseman who could crack any top six in the league. If you don't think he's valuable, I really don't know what to tell you.

Can you prove your claim? He's been getting absolutely demolished at even strength the past 3 years, it's sad to watch. Guy's a shell of what he was at one time. Before you give me the "Vancouver's just bad" excuse, he's by far the worst on a bad team for bleeding shots and dangerous chances against.

Again that's in the 45-55 games he actually ends up playing in any given year.

I'm sure someone might take a chance on him to the tune of a 2nd at the deadline, but I wouldn't exactly call that valuable.

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

Zaitsev + 2nd + Liljegren for Tanev

This is robbery by Jim Benning

 

[Deadly Dogma]

Those two players don't have five years left on their contracts. Not the same thing at all.

yea Zaitsev is actually a better player lol

 

[Cor]

People here acting like the contracts some d-men get on July 1 don’t exist.

I’m not saying Zaitsev is going to get some great return, or that the Leafs won’t have to add something, but what some people are suggesting is so off base.

 

[BlueBaron]

They could look at it as using that 4.6 million for something else and upgrade the defence at the same time. Maybe he wants out.

Seems he does. He whined about how Toronto fans hate defensemen.

 

[WingsMJN2965]

This is more comparable to P. Marleau imo if he were to ever waive his NMC. And #16 for #20 and #53 can actually be a really good deal for a team if the guy they want is not going before #20.

There was some added incentive for the Coyotes there though, in that they got Datsyuk's full cap hit but didn't pay him a single dime. Which is valuable to the few cheap teams in the league. With Marleau, you still owe him $4.25M, though, theoretically, it's only $1.25M after July 1st.

Problem is, he almost certainly isn't waiving his NTC to go to a team looking to cheaply reach the cap floor.

For Detroit, they did miss out on Chychrun, but ended up gaining Cholowski and Hronek, the latter of whom I feel has a good shot at being the best of the three.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Can definitely see Anaheim willing to take Zaitsev with someone like Kapanen or Johnsson for some package of draft picks or prospects.

Zaitsev + aj/kapanen
for
39th + shore

Maybe a little pick/prospects on end to tighten it up a bit.