Explain to me then, HOW zaitsev has no value. All I see is bashing leaf players because they are leaf players. I understand that term is long on zaits contract. If you'd like to use that as a point, go ahead. The dollar value is fine, and zaitsev is quite good at what he does. Defensive d-Men like zaitsev has become have plenty of value around the league.
Here's how Zaitsev has NO value to the Kings:
1 - We are retooling/rebuilding and Zaitsev doesnt fit that mold
2 - We are going to shed salary, not target players with term left on sizeable deals (refer to LA trading a young Pearson who had term for a older pending UFA in Hagelin)
3 - If he's a trade chip for the Leafs in the midst of their SC push, why would he be useful to anyone else in theirs?
4 - IF Zaitsev, a defensive d-men has plenty of value, why would you not keep him yourself? Which only brings more of a spotlight to bullet point 3