Confirmed with Link: Per Friedman, Leafs and Zaitsev have agreed to move on, will find trade for him

[WTFMAN99]

Keep in mind he has a partial NTC that kicks in on July 1st IIRC

If he wants to move on, doesn't sound like a lot of places are off limits.

 

[Cor]

Does this have anything to with the Russia interview? And would the leafs leak this info?

It makes that interview make more sense.

He essentially bashed the fanbase. Doesn’t exactly scream a guy who likes his situation, so not surprised it’s now come out he wants to be traded

 

[Guy Boucher]

Leafs will get a decent return for Zaitsev.

 

[Mr Hockey]

I never liked Zaitsev and was never a fan of his style of play. I'm kind of happy about this for several reasons.

Babcock quite likes Zaitsev. He will not be happy about this news.

lol, if Babcock wanted him to stay, he wouldn't be going anywhere, I'm pretty sure Dubas and Babcock have discussed who stays and goes,etc many times recently

 

[sparxx87]

If he wants out why would that matter?

He can limit his destinations. That won’t always yield the best return for Toronto.

 

[Suntouchable13]

lol, if Babcock wanted him to stay, he wouldn't be going anywhere, I'm pretty sure Dubas and Babcock have discussed who stays and goes many times recently

I am sure Babcock wanted Komarov back and Polak too. They were not brought back, were they? Babcock should just stick to coaching.

 

[sparxx87]

lol, if Babcock wanted him to stay, he wouldn't be going anywhere, I'm pretty sure Dubas and Babcock have discussed who stays and goes many times recently

I’m pretty sure they have completely different philosophies and one or the other will be gone in 12 months or less.

 

[IPS]

lol, if Babcock wanted him to stay, he wouldn't be going anywhere, I'm pretty sure Dubas and Babcock have discussed who stays and goes many times recently

Didn't mean jack shit when Komarov left town and it won't mean jack shit when Zaitsev leaves town.

Who Babcock likes and building the best team are two entirely different things.

I am sure Babcock wanted Komarov back and Polak too. They were not brought back, were they? Babcock should just stick to coaching.

Bingo. Forgot Polak too. Babcock was a fan of him too.

 

[BertCorbeau]

If he wants out why would that matter?

Because he may not just want to go to any team .. So his NTC gives him power to control some of his destination.

That’s my point. The fact that he’s looking to move as well, means he’s unlikely to block a trade. A few days ago we were looking to trade him before that kicked in, but now, that’s less likely to be an issue

I agree it's less likely of an issue, but with his contract term there may not be a big market for him. They're clearly going to do their best to find a place he wants to go but if it doesn't work out that way, his NTC is then a factor.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Didn't mean jack **** when Komarov left town and it won't mean jack **** when Zaitsev leaves town.

Who Babcock likes and building the best team are two entirely different things.

Bingo. Forgot Polak too. Babcock was a fan of him too.

Do you actually think management (Dubas, Babcock, Shanny,etc) don't have meetings to discuss the team, etc lol, Babcock knows everything that goes on

 

[moon111]

Zaitsev, Connor Brown for Milan Lucic, Evan Bouchard, $1.5 million retained.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Do you actually think management (Dubas, Babcock, Shanny,etc) don't have meetings to discuss the team, etc lol, Babcock knows everything that goes on

He knows, but he is not the GM. They don't have to listen to him. He can make suggestions, but Dubas does not have to listen to them. Like I said, he is the coach, Dubas is the GM. Just do your damn job. Why is that so complicated?

 

[Jeypic]

Damn.. not happy about this.

Zaitsev isn’t even overpaid. Our fan base wrongly convinced the world that is the case though, so now we have to sell him at a discount.

 

[Kiwi]

MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED

Easy there big fella, he hasn't been traded yet

I didn't dislike the player if I'm being honest, his puck skills are horrible and he feels pressure like a bugger but he could do a job with the right partner

That contract though, woof

 

[sparxx87]

Damn.. not happy about this.

Zaitsev isn’t even overpaid. Our fan base wrongly convinced the world that is the case though, so now we have to sell him at a discount.

I’m identifying my allies

He’ll go to a market under a smaller spotlight and he’s going to be appreciated as a 2nd pair d man. He might even get PP time and throw up 30 points again.


At that point, the Leafs will still be looking for a top 4 RHD..

 

[TheProspector]

The fact that Zaitsev has a modified NTC on top of that outrageous cap hit and term is amazing. Lou was so, so bad.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Damn.. not happy about this.

Zaitsev isn’t even overpaid. Our fan base wrongly convinced the world that is the case though, so now we have to sell him at a discount.

Do you think GMs base their value on who people boo and what guys on HF say?

 

[Nooodles]

MacKenzie basically saying Zaitsev asked for a trade

 

[pspot]

Zaitsev to Dallas makes a lot of sense
Been saying that for a while

 

[Kiwi]

Because he may not just want to go to any team .. So his NTC gives him power to control some of his destination.



I agree it's less likely of an issue, but with his contract term there may not be a big market for him. They're clearly going to do their best to find a place he wants to go but if it doesn't work out that way, his NTC is then a factor.

I was thinking that but with the cap jumping and how much UFA defenseman are getting on the open market a guy like Zaitsev who's still youngish with term, experience, can actually skate and a not criminally high cap hit that can play in your top 4 on the right isn't unattractive

I think we may be surprised at the market for him

 

[IPS]

Do you actually think management (Dubas, Babcock, Shanny,etc) don't have meetings to discuss the team, etc lol, Babcock knows everything that goes on

Do you think you're saying some groundbreaking shit here that nobody knows about?

Obviously the head coach is aware of the team's decisions on player personnel going forward. Move along captain obvious.

 

[Tak7]

Leafs will get a decent return for Zaitsev.

I doubt it.

 

[IPS]

Zaitsev, Connor Brown for Milan Lucic, Evan Bouchard, $1.5 million retained.

 

[Gabriel426]

Zai is just being misplaced in TO. I think he is a good offensive Dman but on the Leafs he is a shut down Dman.
Zai for Adam Larsson is actually a good trade for both Leafs and Oilers. Zai can QB their PP while Larsson is the shut down Dman Leafs want.

 

[sparxx87]

Do you think GMs base their value on who people boo and what guys on HF say?

It’s the court of public opinion.

A lot of people saying the wrong thing can make a lot of other people believe it.

I agree, it should have very little impact on player value... but... don’t you think, given the article just published, that this might not be coincidental timing?