Not a bad idea, but I’d stay away from Ceci, he’s awful

Just the only RD, with no contract for next year, I could think of

You want to dump 4.5 million, try Kadri, his trade value will actually add to the team rather than trading Z and losing an extra piece. Nylander, Marner and Marleau all have experience playing center.

Flaws with your comment...Kadri is talented. He's not a dump, which is why he would bring back more. & this team is hella worse without him on it. Just to be clear. & none of those guys should play centre unless it's a disaster.

Zaitsev is not a dump... he’s a bit over paid but still a serviceable 2nd pair rhd. You will not have to pay to me be him. He has a neutral value. Maybe a 4th, even heard some teams would give up a third or B prospect.

https://www.capfriendly.com/forums/thread/198817&post_id=728933

This agm we move zaitsev and kappy to get 2 pieces back.

Trade Kadri for a serviceable 3rd line center, who is a couple years younger and couple million cheaper. The Leafs have enough talent to survive, also I guess you haven't noticed Nylander lining up at center with Kadri on the wing for a few games this season. Or Marleau taking a rare shift or two as a center thru out the year.

Gotta disagree. Yes Zaitsev is serviceable. So is Lucic. If both guys hit UFA this summer they would both earn contracts because they are legit NHLers....but they'd get significantly less money and term then they currently have.

If Zaitsev had 1-2 years left on his deal...I think a team would take a flyer on him...hope they could pick up a 2nd pairing d-man for a 5th round pick and see if he can return to the level of play he showed 2yrs ago. But with 5 more years it's way too much of a risk, IMO, for another team to part with an asset to acquire him.

Let's face it...we were all kind of surprised when Lou gave him that deal. Our hope was that Lou knew something we didn't and that the contract might look good in a year or 2.

Kyle needs to walk across the hall and ask Masai Ujiri how he managed to get a 1st round pick out of New York for Andrei Bargnani

Lucic can not skate in the nhl anymore... I watch a lot of oilers games out here and he is an anchor. He is gauthier on a 6.2m. I think your comparison is apples to oranges. Lucic at zaitsev’s price would still be a bad contract. To be honest if we weren’t in such a tight cap crunch next year I wouldn’t move zaitsev. He is our best RHD.

Certainly better comparables for the contract. There are teams that could take on zaitsev and benefit. I got the cold shoulder from the stars because ... Polak... lol. Funny how every leafs Dman is garbage till they are moved. A team that thinks they could get more out of polak than zaitsev the s the issue. Most people on this site band wagon. Would be a good solid partner for Heiskanen... especially if johns goes on ltir.

Sorry. Wasn’t trying to compare them as players. Just their situations. Guys that can still play but are overpaid and how that kind of makes them leper’s to other GM’s.

For me, it’s Zaitzev’s term that will be the hardest sell.