The Toronto Maple Leafs are doing their best to accommodate a trade request from Nikita Zaitsev, and even with his long-term contract in tow they are getting interest from around the league. It was recently reported that the Vancouver Canucks had checked in on the Russian defenseman, and now Darren Dreger of TSN tweets that the Edmonton Oilers may have some interest as well. Rick Dhaliwal of Sportsnet has heard the same, though notes that both Vancouver and Edmonton have not yet made offers.
Zaitsev, 27, likely would have been on the trade block even without a request this summer. The Maple Leafs need to clear some cap space for the incoming Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson contracts, and Zaitsev’s five remaining years at a $4.5MM cap hit was one of the more obvious moves the team could make. Moving the right-handed defenseman would leave an even bigger hole on the blue line for the Maple Leafs, but his play hasn’t warranted his contract over the last two seasons.
It’s those relative struggles that makes the Oilers’ interest somewhat questionable at best. Edmonton already has four defensemen earning at least $4MM per season and none of them are truly outproducing their salary. In fact, they have young players coming up through the system that will need bigger roles before long. Adding a player like Zaitsev may bring about some stability, given only Oscar Klefbom is signed for more than two seasons, but he would also reduce the opportunity someone like Evan Bouchard may need next season.
That is of course unless the team is looking to move out other names. The Oilers and Maple Leafs had been rumored to be discussing a trade at the deadline revolving around Connor Brown, and perhaps those talks have resurfaced along with Zaitsev. Even if Toronto does move Zaitsev and Patrick Marleau, they may still feel like they need a little more room. Brown’s $2.1MM cap hit is fine for most teams, but perhaps not the salary-squeezed Maple Leafs if he’s to continue playing on the fourth line.
It is important to note that Zaitsev will earn a $3MM signing bonus on July 1, but will also see his modified no-trade clause kick in. That clause blocks deals to ten teams around the league, and if he hasn’t already submitted the list he could very well use the rumored interest to give himself even more leverage. The two sides are apparently working together on a deal after the request, but Zaitsev could control his fate a little more if a deal isn’t done in the next few weeks.
Zaitsev has a contract that is only going to look better in the long term, the question is whether or not he is playing up to his contract, obviously there are teams that think so or they are looking for Toronto to put in an extra piece just to make it palatable.
I just wonder what the end game is for Toronto. Their RD are brutal. Is Nylander for Subban happening? How do they plan to navigate this offseason
SS,
Like every teams goal to win the Cup!
First having to lock up Marner to a deal. Signing either one of Kapenen or Johnsson and moving the other. Accommodating the wishes of Marleau and Zaitsev to be moved. I’d give some of the minor league d opportunity to play as they are mostly younger and cheaper and give Leafs cap room. Moving Nylander after he gets off to a better start where his value is higher or predraft or at the draft for the right deal. PK is a good player but I don’t like his on ice antics. Plus who in there right mind would do that deal. Willie is soft and doesn’t show up in the playoffs. Leafs shoulda traded him and not let him back. You wanna be on the team or not. You can’t win with room type cancerous guys like that.