Toronto declines...

This would honestly sting as I think Zaitsev > Gudas as a defenceman. But I think we may find out how much Kyle needs to pay to ship his $4.5m deal out the door

I agree, I don't think zaitsev is as bad as most seem to think, but his contract is going to be tight to fit next year if we plan on signing Marner.

9.9 for Marner is a good number, it's the same percentile which Kucherov got.

If he was that bad I don't think Babcock would roll him out for 20+ min a night.

It's one of the downsides about the Toronto hockey media. Late in 2017 last season Zaitsev got hurt and the team immediately slumped...the hockey pros said all will be fine once Zaitsev returns...but if you remember...Babcock was playing him and Hainsey for all 2min of penalty kills....when he came back he got thrown right back into the fire....then missed time because he got sick...and when he came back really just looked worn down. And in this market...if you're making 4.5m for another 6 years and playing like that...the media rip you to shreds...and a lot of fly-by-night fans assumed they were right and jumped on the hate-train.

Trouble is there has to be another trade for 2m to make the roster work. Doesn't make the Leaf defence better, they lose Johnson and maybe Brown to make cap work.

Its strange to say but Gudas has developed into a really really solid top 4 D,I agree that Zaitzev gets **** on too much (as does hainsey) but something has to give in terms of the Leafs cap situation

I've said this before and it's an unpopular thought, but why not trade Kadri? that's an easier 4.5 million contract to move than Zaitsev and he'll actually bring back some good future. Place Nylander or Marleau into the 3rd line center and the Leafs will still continue to have one of the top center depth in the NHL.