What to do with Nikita Zaitsev....

[joe dirte]

Would try to move him for James Neal then buy Neal out after one year if it doesn't work out.

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Leafs do need a LW with size and scoring ability and its possible he could click with either Tavares or Matthews.

Would try to move him for James Neal then buy Neal out after one year if it doesn't work out.

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Leafs do need a LW with size and scoring ability and its possible he could click with either Tavares or Matthews.

Nextvyear is the crunch though. After that marleau is defijitely off the books and not an issue. Trading for neal accomplishes nothing for the cap.

 

[Funk21]

Would try to move him for James Neal then buy Neal out after one year if it doesn't work out.

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Leafs do need a LW with size and scoring ability and its possible he could click with either Tavares or Matthews.

Provided we have some other RHD that comes in sure. Ideally it would be trading Nylander for Pesce. Hainsey on the third pairing for 2 million would be fine but we need to get a first pairing and let Liljegren play with Muzzin.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Wish we'd give him time on PP2 to try to inflate his value and make it easier to trade him. Need to ship him out of town ASAP.

 

[shaner8989]

Robidas island

Guys putrid

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Robidas island

Guys putrid

Can you go with him?

 

[Atomos2]

You needed to create your own thread for such a useless redundant opinion that's likely littered among the other X number of Zaitsev threads? Try the search function next time.

Cute. Try to respond to the actual thread next time rather than throw a hissy fit?

 

[Atomos2]

We have talked at length about having a weak blueline, but given our cap constraints, its not going to be an easy problem to fix. With the cap situation and the potential problem with Gardiner departing in the summer, things could be even worse. It means that a lot rides on Lil and/or Sandin stepping up and performing well.

Wish we could switch Zaitsevs and Gardiner's contracts. I'd feel much better about this team going into next season.

 

[Morgs]

I still believe that there will be a team out there that's both desperate for a RHD and see legitimate value in Zaitsev. GM's are so dumb.

The dream is to dump that salary and pick up none, but realistically that's either going to cost a significant assset (obviously not Sandin/Liljegren/Bracco/2020 1st big), or we're going to have to pick up a contract we probably don't want.

Man, Lou really tried his hardest to f*** up our cap situation going forward.

 

[Morgs]

Provided we have some other RHD that comes in sure. Ideally it would be trading Nylander for Pesce. Hainsey on the third pairing for 2 million would be fine but we need to get a first pairing and let Liljegren play with Muzzin.

I get that moving Zaitsev makes our team better, but why are you trying to make our team worse?

 

[cannucky]

Liljegren and Sandin are not going to solve our problems on the back end , Hainsey's deal ends this year so theres 3 mill , he can come back on the old 1x1 for as long as he is worth it , Ozzy and Marincin will free up almost 2 mill more , expect Rosen and Borgy to step up next year they are the two marlies with the beef and fortitude to make a hit or take a hit to make the play on the puck needed to get it done . It will take about a third of that saving added to what he makes now to keep Gards , the rest goes into the Johnsson , Kappy and Ennis pool , moving Zaits for picks and Nylander for what ever gives us enough to sign Marner and the other three keepers , plus maybe a little cushion , Ennis will probably stay for a discount now that he and Mathews are best buddies but we need to find an NHL caliber goalie pretty quick here , Freddie is struggling harder for longer periods of time every year and Sparks ....well we all know where he stands .

 

[Jozay]

I think Dubas knows he'll be able to get rid of him since he added Muzzin without getting rid of any future salary.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Rumor is Benning has wanted him in the past because he likes a RD with size who can play with offense. Which he can, he's not used like that here. Now, question is can we get value for him or will Benning want us to take back salary?

 

[justafan22]

I still believe that there will be a team out there that's both desperate for a RHD and see legitimate value in Zaitsev. GM's are so dumb.

The dream is to dump that salary and pick up none, but realistically that's either going to cost a significant assset (obviously not Sandin/Liljegren/Bracco/2020 1st big), or we're going to have to pick up a contract we probably don't want.

Man, Lou really tried his hardest to **** up our cap situation going forward.

Gudbranson's been dealt despite awful play in vancouver.

I'm fine with trading him for a 5th or equal bad money but shorter term deal

 

[justafan22]

Hainsey for what he brings is a bargain at 3mil

Eh. It's fine but Lou's biggest d add was an old hainsey

 

[Zybalto]

Provided we have some other RHD that comes in sure. Ideally it would be trading Nylander for Pesce. Hainsey on the third pairing for 2 million would be fine but we need to get a first pairing and let Liljegren play with Muzzin.

Its on!

Pesce vs. Zaitsev since the Muzzin trade! (5v5 with sample of 117 players with 300 minutes min)

CF%:
Pesce: 51.11%
Zaitsev: 48.01%

SCF%:
Pesce: 47.56%
Ziatsev: 52.07%


HDCF%
Pesce: 43.79%
Ziatsev: 50%


Scoring chances against/60:
Pesce: 27.02/60
Ziatsev: 29/60


High Danger chances against/60:
Pesce: 14.92/60 (Last on Canes, 112/117 players league wide)
Ziatsev: 10.5/60 (Leads Leafs)


Wait!, theres obviously an issue with QoC and defensive usage right?

OZ start %:
Pesce: 48%
Ziatsev: 34.65% (2nd lowest in the league)

QoC:
Pesce: 2nd pairing
Ziatsev: high end 2nd pairing

err, points production.

Goals/60:
Pesce: .47/60
Ziatsev: .31/60

Points/60:
Pesce: 1.26/60
Ziatsev: 1.1/60

There we go! It was getting a little lopsided.


Looking at the numbers, Zaitsev>>>Pesce unless you want a slightly better offensive dman that plays much softer minutes and gives up a ton more high danger chances and you are willing to give up Nylander too vs. arguably the least sheltered player relative to his team in the league that has respectable numbers across the board and is great at stopping high danger chances + keeping Nylander.

Maybe Pesce will work out though? He'll come over like Muzzin and, despite his drawbacks, no one will crap on him right?

 

[CelticDruid]

Right now I would be happy with some meat and Potatoes on the back end. Polak had his faults, but he would look good right now. Will come cheap with a two-year contract.

 

[GlitchMarner]

Didn't people really like this guy early on in his tenure with TOR?

 

[ShaneFalco]

Didn't people really like this guy early on in his tenure with TOR?

Yeah but who would have signed him for 7 years at 4.5 and a NTC

 

[Morgs]

Didn't people really like this guy early on in his tenure with TOR?

He was ok relative to expectations and competition. What was awesome was that he was a 24 year old rookie and there was hope he would be able to take his mostly positive first season and get better with decreased competition. It was nice seeing a guy be positive offensively in top-pairing comp with a decently solid transition game. He was piss poor defenselessly though, and it was something most of us hoped would either come around, or hope that his offensive game really took off.

But starting in his second season it was like someone said "you're playing wrong" instead of "keep doing what you're doing and improve" and instead of at least just bringing the offensive/transition game, his ability to drive play completely dried up, he was equally terrible in transition, and his defense only marginally improved. What's worse is now in his 3rd season he's one of the worst regular offensive defenseman in the entire NHL, is one of the worst in transition, and really his only value comes from being a little below average at defense 5v5 and the PK.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Liljegren and Sandin are not going to solve our problems on the back end , Hainsey's deal ends this year so theres 3 mill , he can come back on the old 1x1 for as long as he is worth it , Ozzy and Marincin will free up almost 2 mill more , expect Rosen and Borgy to step up next year they are the two marlies with the beef and fortitude to make a hit or take a hit to make the play on the puck needed to get it done .

According to CapFriendly we are already at $73.4 m with 16 players signed (hence, 6 or 7 slots to fill) next year. Gardiner's and Hainsey are UFAs, so their salaries are already not counted in the 2019/2020 total.

Toronto Maple Leafs - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

If Rosen & Borgman replace Oz & Marincin, that amounts to what - $300k in savings? And, neither have been blueline regulars anyhow. That's not helping much or moving the needle.

Even if we sign Hainsey at 1 million (pretty optimistic & not sure we will), and resign Gardiner at $4.1 m (a very marginal increase of $50k/year), that leaves about $9.6 m to sign 4 or 5 players.

Marner, AJ, & Kapanen are RFA, so their new salaries have not been included yet. Not seeing how we get Marner, AJ & Kapanen all signed with what remains. More realistically, Marner's salary will use up all or most of what remains.

In summary, I'm not seeing a lot of easy, great solutions to address or add to our blueline with so little $s available. Yes, of course, we can waive our magic wands & get rid of Zaitsev's or Marleau's contract, but it will require an extra special wand.

 

[jaric1862]

People are way overblowing this, im sure teams would take this guy for free. A team like Ottawa, who needs to hit the cap floor and really lacks on right handed dman. Plus zaitsev would be a great mentor for the young guys LHD there (Chabot and Brannstrom)

 

[HoweHullOrr]

People are way overblowing this, im sure teams would take this guy for free. A team like Ottawa, who needs to hit the cap floor and really lacks on right handed dman. Plus zaitsev would be a great mentor for the young guys LHD there (Chabot and Brannstrom)

Ottawa gets mentioned as the solution for all teams cap woes these days. So, are they the magic solution, or is this lazy thinking? No idea what they'll ultimately do, but looking at it more logically (versus just using wishful thinking), I'd think they want to sign players with shorter terms as stop-gaps rather than Zaitsev. Its term that is the greater issue here. Arizona is on the cusp of a playoff appearance, so perhaps they approach things differently in the future as well.

 

[Funk21]

According to CapFriendly we are already at $73.4 m with 16 players signed (hence, 6 or 7 slots to fill) next year. Gardiner's and Hainsey are UFAs, so their salaries are already not counted in the 2019/2020 total.

Toronto Maple Leafs - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

If Rosen & Borgman replace Oz & Marincin, that amounts to what - $300k in savings? And, neither have been blueline regulars anyhow. That's not helping much or moving the needle.

Even if we sign Hainsey at 1 million (pretty optimistic & not sure we will), and resign Gardiner at $4.1 m (a very marginal increase of $50k/year), that leaves about $9.6 m to sign 4 or 5 players.

Marner, AJ, & Kapanen are RFA, so their new salaries have not been included yet. Not seeing how we get Marner, AJ & Kapanen all signed with what remains. More realistically, Marner's salary will use up all or most of what remains.

In summary, I'm not seeing a lot of easy, great solutions to address or add to our blueline with so little $s available. Yes, of course, we can waive our magic wands & get rid of Zaitsev's or Marleau's contract, but it will require an extra special wand.

We are not signing Gardiner, he is the last thing we need. I’m pretty happy with our LHD:

Reilly
Muzzin
Dermott

We have Rosen, Borgman and Sandin.

Is is and always has been the RHD

?????
Hainsey/Liljegren (@ TDL)
Zaitsev

 

[Taluss]

I think hes kinda screwed. I dont see any way he stays

 

[HoweHullOrr]

We are not signing Gardiner, he is the last thing we need. I’m pretty happy with our LHD:

Reilly
Muzzin
Dermott

We have Rosen, Borgman and Sandin.

Is is and always has been the RHD

?????
Hainsey/Liljegren (@ TDL)
Zaitsev

That was one of my points. I don't see how we are resigning Gardiner either. I was replying to another poster who seemed to think we would resign him and have no cap issues. Not sure what the bottom part of your post meant - not clear.