Friedman: Leafs and Sens working on a trade based around Zaitsev and Ceci

[Isaac Nootin]

Exactly, not sure how this helps The Leafs? Deal has not gone through yet but I am banking on DJ Smith believes he can better utilize Zaitsev than Babcock did. Perhaps play him with Brannstrom on the 3rd pairing to start. Insulate those 2. The key is DJ Smith here. If I were Ottawa I would sign Hainsey who DJ knows well. Put him with Chabot and let him do what he did with Rielly in Toronto. Sens D would ironically start looking better than the Leafs if they did this.

You mean the same DJ Smith that was in charge of........the Leafs defense. That DJ Smith??

 

[Sensmileletsgo]

You mean the same DJ Smith that was in charge of........the Leafs defense. That DJ Smith??

Babcock runs the show in Toronto, just like he does every where he coached.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Brown is only making 2.1 next year, as a 4th liner, this would be too much in Toronto who are cap invested on top and cap devested on the bottom of their roster. On the Sens he could play as high as the top 6. Definitely top 9, at 2.1 that is good value.

Do we even know what the sweetner is? A first rd pick or one of the other Leafs prospects? if Grundstrom was still a Leaf I would look to a player like him. But LA got him. Even Durzi. Do Sens fans want Lilegren? His draft stock dropped due to worries of his hockey IQ, would they take a chance with him?

 

[Eastborn142]

Brown is only making 2.1 next year, as a 4th liner, this would be too much in Toronto who are cap invested on top and cap devested on the bottom of their roster. On the Sens he could play as high as the top 6. Definitely top 9, at 2.1 that is good value.

Do we even know what the sweetner is? A first rd pick or one of the other Leafs prospects? if Grundstrom was still a Leaf I would look to a player like him. But LA got him. Even Durzi. Do Sens fans want Lilegren? His draft stock dropped due to worries of his hockey IQ, would they take a chance with him?

brown is the sweetner.

 

[SensontheRush]

Zaitsev is a little older than Ceci as well....

 

[topshelf15]

brown is the sweetner.

Might as well just keep Ceci.....

 

[The Winter Soldier]

You mean the same DJ Smith that was in charge of........the Leafs defense. That DJ Smith??

The same DJ Smith that Morgan Rielly praised himself that helped turn him into the D man he is today.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

The same DJ Smith that Morgan Rielly praised himself that helped turn him into the D man he is today.

The same DJ Smith that has Zaitsev requesting a trade because of the way he was deployed?

 

[Eastborn142]

Might as well just keep Ceci.....

Brown is a very effective player and would likely play in Ottawa's top 6. At 2.1 mil, that's a good bargain for Ottawa.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

brown is the sweetner.

If true, that's not much of a sweetener at all, considering its doing the Leafs a favour in ridding themselves of 2.1 million against the cap on the 4th line.

 

[topshelf15]

So we take on 4 years of Zaitsev,and we get back Brown???While Carolina gets a 1st for one season of PM...Come on that is not worth it at all for us ,you guy,s could just not qualify Ceci and be done with him....

 

[The Winter Soldier]

The same DJ Smith that has Zaitsev requesting a trade because of the way he was deployed?

You got your coaches wrong. Yep, the same Morgan Rielly that praised DJ Smith as a coach. Carry on.

 

[Eastborn142]

If true, that's not much of a sweetener at all, considering its doing the Leafs a favour in ridding themselves of 2.1 million against the cap on the 4th line.

Brown is actually on a very good contract for what he brings. The way the leafs cap structure is though, they basically can't have anyone over a mil in the bottom 6. Certainly not the 4th line.

 

[topshelf15]

Brown is a very effective player and would likely play in Ottawa's top 6. At 2.1 mil, that's a good bargain for Ottawa.

We have boatloads of those guys ,we dont need another...Especially not one that has us taking on Zaitsev,s contract

 

[BM14]

Babcock runs the show in Toronto, just like he does every where he coached.

So then Ottawa hired a coach without any legit NHL experience since Babcock completely runs the show?

Edit: seems about right for Melnyk, never mind.

 

[Eastborn142]

We have boatloads of those guys ,we dont need another...Especially not one that has us taking on Zaitsev,s contract

I guess the guy who runs the ship thinks you do.

 

[topshelf15]

The Leafs just gave a 1st for one season of Marleau,we want more than a 4th liner in return ...And rightfully so

 

[Isaac Nootin]

You got your coaches wrong. Yep, the same Morgan Rielly that praised DJ Smith as a coach. Carry on.

DJ Smith didn't run the defense in Toronto? Or does he only get the credit for Rielly? And no blame for ruining Zaitsev? Would fit your m.o.

Shall we bring up your posting history about how awful you thought the Leafs D was throughout the year? Hmm...

 

[topshelf15]

I guess the guy who runs the ship thinks you do.

Are you sure??EM hates Russians this much is obvious,there is no way we take one on owed that much money for the mere price of a 4th liner

 

[BM14]

The Leafs just gave a 1st for one season of Marleau,we want more than a 4th liner in return ...And rightfully so

You can want all you want.

Your owner wants high cap/low real $.

This is what you get. You shouldn't be shocked by this.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

DJ Smith didn't run the defense in Toronto? Or does he only get the credit for Rielly? And no blame for ruining Zaitsev? Would fit your m.o.

Shall we bring up your posting history about how awful you thought the Leafs D was throughout the year? Hmm...

Also the same DJ Smith that NHL players voted the best next coach in the NHL. Rielly agrees!

 

[13pacheco31]

DJ Smith didn't run the defense in Toronto? Or does he only get the credit for Rielly? And no blame for ruining Zaitsev? Would fit your m.o.

Shall we bring up your posting history about how awful you thought the Leafs D was throughout the year? Hmm...

If he were still thebleafs defense coach, he'd be saying he's the worst in the league right now

 

[Sensin5]

Yes but the Sens are trading a bad player who has 1 year for a player who is the same, maybe slightly better or worse, with a 5 year deal. It would be different if Zaitsev was signed for one year.

Having watched more Ceci than is healthy for anyone, you drastically underestimate the difference between Ceci and Zaitsev. If I were a betting man, I would bet that Zaitsev reclaims some of his early promise away from the Leafs. Always thought he had the tools.

 

[SAK11]

The Leafs just gave a 1st for one season of Marleau,we want more than a 4th liner in return ...And rightfully so

Ottawa likely sees value in Zaitsev, though. Very different than the Marleau situation where Marleau was being bought out.

 

[Sensmileletsgo]

So then Ottawa hired a coach without any legit NHL experience since Babcock completely runs the show?

Edit: seems about right or Melnyk, never mind.

Ottawa has a long history of hiring coaches without NHL head coaching experience. Yes you are right that's likely because of Melnyk and what he's willing to pay.