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

[Menzinger]

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

He can be fine with the right partner and usage, but that contract is just nasty.

I may be an internal optimist but at this point I'd say hes as good as gone. Way too many signs pointing to the case: leads need cap, player doesnt seem want to stay....

 

[Kiwi]

Muzzin and Rielly together could still be in the mix. They were pretty good together to me. I'm sure it will be revisited.

There's definitely going to be an addition to the right side. Very likely someone that can put up more than 3 primary points in over a calendar year.

Liljegren, barring a bad camp, should get a chance to pair up with Rosen.

I'd put money on us chasing Miller out of Vegas, money

 

[SprDaVE]

I'd put money on us chasing Miller out of Vegas, money

He's very high on the list of suitors for sure. Makes a lot of sense too.

Trouba might be looked at as well, but that will require a heck of a trade and a lot of moving pieces.

 

[Leafidelity]

What a pleasant surprise. I too want him to leave.

 

[Kiwi]

He can be fine with the right partner and usage, but that contract is just nasty.

I may be an internal optimist but at this point I'd say hes as good as gone. Way too many signs pointing to the case: leads need cap, player doesnt seem want to stay....

Thing is we need to find a taker, we can't retain or take back salary ideally so that does limit our options but I do believe there is a market for Zaitsev

I'm just not sure how big it is

 

[DopeyFish]

He can be fine with the right partner and usage, but that contract is just nasty.

I may be an internal optimist but at this point I'd say hes as good as gone. Way too many signs pointing to the case: leads need cap, player doesnt seem want to stay....

The contract isn't that bad. To put in relative terms, jeff fingers contract would be over $5 million per year today

It's only bad in the context of maximizing our roster, but it's fair value

 

[Nineteen67]

It feels like there is a blockbuster coming. The Leafs cannot take the chance at missing the playoffs next year.
Now, having the player come out and request the trade publicly is not the best scenario for the Leafs.

 

[Raymondo316]

 

[Fogelhund]

Imagine a team trades for Zaitsev, and then signs Gardiner, and he ends up having to play with Gardiner again...LOL

 

[kb]

Gardiner is better than Zaitsev at literally everything.

So that would be great.

Gardiner is gone......let him go in peace.

 

[Kiwi]

He's very high on the list of suitors for sure. Makes a lot of sense too.

Trouba might be looked at as well, but that will require a heck of a trade and a lot of moving pieces.

There were rumours we were big game hunting around the TDL with a lot of moving pieces so they could revisit that again, I think a puck moving top4 RD is is coming our way though

Miller makes sense from an availability, cost and play style POV, doesn't hurt that Dubas has had some contact with him in the Soo either

 

[Menzinger]

The contract isn't that bad. To put in relative terms, jeff fingers contract would be over $5 million per year today

It's only bad in the context of maximizing our roster, but it's fair value

Compare it to hainsey- a better D man, who signed for lower cap and term.

 

[SprDaVE]

 

[Pocket Hercules]

So let me get this straight, you're telling me that the other 30 GM's didn't have a secret meeting where they orchestrated a plan to cripple the Leafs remaining cap space by putting the screws to them on any potential trade instead of focusing on their own team's needs?... But the main boards told me different.

 

[as Pure as Evil]

I think they will trade him to the rangers. they have a bunch of high end young Russian prospects incoming and it would be good to have someone that can translate for the coaches.

I also think he will garner a positive return. he is only 27. and in a couple years his contract isn't going to look that bad. he had a great playoffs. I don't think it will cost us to trade him we may hate the contract but to be fair its not a albatross in any way. he is still a serviceable 4-6 was pretty good when he wasn't attached to gardiner he may be slightly over paid. but look around the league lesser have received more

 

[Warden of the North]

Why couldnt he have asked this before Ken Holland took over in Edmonton?

Chiarelli might have traded us RNH or something

 

[Sypher04]

Zaitsev's comments and now this seems like it cannot be coincidence.

 

[phillipmike]

Id be happy with a "soft/limited" deal... for me the goal is cap space to keep Marner, Kappy and AJ on the team. Then you dropkick Marleau the next year and have more money to work with.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Gardiner is better than Zaitsev at literally everything.

So that would be great.

Sure. But Muzzin needs an extension coming up. Also need to account for some space for another D coming in as well.

 

[PuckMagi]

I never know quite what to make of Zaitsev... hard to rate him. Is he good? Does he suck? So many mixed opinions and I'm not quite sure where I stand.

If there is a reasonable trade available, it's probably best to move him.

 

[Sting]

Probably going to have to part with a 2nd (or 1st) to get rid of that god-awful contract for a #6 d-man.

 

[phillipmike]

With his Don Cherry comments he would be perfect for Carolina.

 

[Matthews34]

If Phaneuf can be traded without retention them it shouldn't be an issue for Zaitsev. It's not like he's over paid by 2-3 million per year.

 

[BTP]

Zaitsev for Kessel

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I almost can't wait for him to get dealt just to see the stupid comments stop.

It's like the majority of people haven't even seen the guy play and are suddenly experts on him because they think they understand advanced stats.