NHL Transactions, Injuries & Rumours

[kimmer]

For us fantasy gms its all fun and games this whole expansion (literally)
But real nhl it involves real human beings having to go to vegas for their careers (while some may view that as a jackpot)
Humanity aspect must be considered

[The BBKL Insider]

I feel like Craig Button doesn't understand this expansion thing...he has the leafs exposing Carrick and protecting Zaitsev....he doesn't even realize that Zaitsev is exempt...

man, some people should do research before going on TV.

[hong57]

Just don't like the we don't want to hurt his feelings approach. It's a business and he isn't a core player, I want a cut throat management team who makes personnel decisions with logic not emotion. Lou seems like the old school guy who would want to protect Martin and I'm hoping the new blood like Dubas, Pridham, Metcalf, Charron and Pettapiece can start to shift the team's way of thinking in the future.

ya i agree with that.. well i duno how business runs but i guess this will vary from player from player.. like winnik is perfectly ok and leafs shd thank him (sign him twice in off season and trade him in deadline for futures).. but martin got signed for 3 years? i guess he'd expect to be here for at least that period or else it wud be a shorter deal.. i duno but i guess the leafs do value his presence and do not want to risk any chance of LV taking him

[hong57]

I feel like Craig Button doesn't understand this expansion thing...he has the leafs exposing Carrick and protecting Zaitsev....he doesn't even realize that Zaitsev is exempt...

man, some people should do research before going on TV.

wud the list from NHL different than cap friendly? even with the same rule but different interpretations?

[Bruyns]

I feel like Craig Button doesn't understand this expansion thing...he has the leafs exposing Carrick and protecting Zaitsev....he doesn't even realize that Zaitsev is exempt...

man, some people should do research before going on TV.

wud the list from NHL different than cap friendly? even with the same rule but different interpretations?

No Button is just dumb.

[hong57]

I feel like Craig Button doesn't understand this expansion thing...he has the leafs exposing Carrick and protecting Zaitsev....he doesn't even realize that Zaitsev is exempt...

man, some people should do research before going on TV.

wud the list from NHL different than cap friendly? even with the same rule but different interpretations?

No Button is just dumb.

just like his prospect list

[Shep]

Ugh, that Zaitsev signing is awful.

You don't sign a complementary piece for seven years. Contracts longer than four years should only be used for core pieces.

[Arian The Insider]

I'd love if we exposed Martin and lost him. Get out of that contract term.

[The BBKL Insider]

Ugh, that Zaitsev signing is awful.

You don't sign a complementary piece for seven years. Contracts longer than four years should only be used for core pieces.

in the regular season he was better than Rielly, IMO

[Robin Hood]

The good thing about the Zaitsev deal is that it is reversible. There are ways to get out of it if this goes sour. Agreed on term being way too much.

[KapG]

You aren't getting him for 4.5 though without that term.

Would you guys rather pay him 5.5-6 over 4-5 years?

[Matthew]

You aren't getting him for 4.5 though without that term.

Would you guys rather pay him 5.5-6 over 4-5 years?

3 years from now you might prefer that.

[KapG]

You aren't getting him for 4.5 though without that term.

Would you guys rather pay him 5.5-6 over 4-5 years?

3 years from now you might prefer that.

Might also be a steal in 3 years.

I personally don't mind the deal

[The BBKL Insider]

Gotta trust the Shanaplan

[Shep]

Ugh, that Zaitsev signing is awful.

You don't sign a complementary piece for seven years. Contracts longer than four years should only be used for core pieces.

in the regular season he was better than Rielly, IMO

Not in final 20 games or playoffs. He was awful. Looked Roman Polak, treating the puck like a hand grenade.

[Shep]

You aren't getting him for 4.5 though without that term.

Would you guys rather pay him 5.5-6 over 4-5 years?

Lol, he isn't worth anywhere NEAR 5.5 to 6 million.

There is absolutely no way that 7 years was a requirement for getting him at 4.5 million. He had a good 60 games, followed by a bad 20 games + playoffs. He did not earn north of 5 million, no chance. $4.5 million is not a bargain at all. I would argue he isn't worth $4.5 million on a 5 year deal. Paying 5-6 million on a 3 year deal makes a hell of a lot more sense than this (despite that also being a terrible contract). He has one decent year as a 25 year old rookie. Go take a look at the careers of players that are 24-25 year old rookies. It's not good. These are slightly different circumstances coming in from the KHL rather than floundering in the minors, but the evidence is still out there.

I feel people are being blinded with how hot he started his NHL career. As the season wore on, he continued to get worse. The pairing of Zaitsev and Rielly was really bad. They were asked to take on the opposing teams top lines, and failed. When Gardiner was asked to do that? He succeeded. The streak at the end of the season coincided with a switching of roles for the two pairings.

This is going to be a bad contract for the duration unless Zaitsev takes a significant step forward next season. I would make the argument that he will take a step back offensively as RIelly sees more time back on the PP and/or the Leafs bring in another top 4 dman that is more suited for the Power Play.

[The BBKL Insider]

You aren't getting him for 4.5 though without that term.

Would you guys rather pay him 5.5-6 over 4-5 years?

Lol, he isn't worth anywhere NEAR 5.5 to 6 million.

There is absolutely no way that 7 years was a requirement for getting him at 4.5 million. He had a good 60 games, followed by a bad 20 games + playoffs. He did not earn north of 5 million, no chance. $4.5 million is not a bargain at all. I would argue he isn't worth $4.5 million on a 5 year deal. Paying 5-6 million on a 3 year deal makes a hell of a lot more sense than this (despite that also being a terrible contract). He has one decent year as a 25 year old rookie. Go take a look at the careers of players that are 24-25 year old rookies. It's not good. These are slightly different circumstances coming in from the KHL rather than floundering in the minors, but the evidence is still out there.

I feel people are being blinded with how hot he started his NHL career. As the season wore on, he continued to get worse. The pairing of Zaitsev and Rielly was really bad. They were asked to take on the opposing teams top lines, and failed. When Gardiner was asked to do that? He succeeded. The streak at the end of the season coincided with a switching of roles for the two pairings.

This is going to be a bad contract for the duration unless Zaitsev takes a significant step forward next season. I would make the argument that he will take a step back offensively as RIelly sees more time back on the PP and/or the Leafs bring in another top 4 dman that is more suited for the Power Play.

I agree, that he isn't worth 5-6 on a short-term deal. He is worth no more than 4.5mil or any term (long or short).

That said, I think he was great when he was paired with Gards. Those two will stay together next season. They need to bring in a quality top 3 shutdown dman to play with Morgan. That seems to be the missing piece on the leafs back-end. The bottom 2 spots can be filled in by marlies, Marcinin, Carrick, Polak, etc....

I'd target a top 4 dman via UFA or a JVR trade this summer.

[Handsome&FairMike]

Great first season in the NHL (I think people are forgetting how difficult this league is) and longest season he's likely played ever... just like matthews and the kids got tired towards the end of the year. Zaitsev was logging big minutes in a league far more physical in anything that he's played before. He's also got a stud coach and his skating is super smooth... no concern at all on my end re: this deal... sure the term was a little long but given the kid has UFA years locked up and he had an easy exit back to russia/open market I think it was a very solid deal.

[Bruyns]

Not a big fan of the contract, but he had leverage with his age and going back to KHL and then being UFA. RHD is also a scarcity and if he was left he probably doesn't get that deal. I can live with it since there aren't many better options, but they really need another RHD to play ahead of him so he isn't facing top competition. Manson would be perfect since he is the defensive type player we could use and could be available with ANA having too many D to protect and would still let Zaitsev get PP time.

[thom54]

there are almost 0 top 4 RHD on the market this year as UFA.