That's not how to do a cap dump to NJ.

Not saying Jersey wants Zaitsev for five years...maybe they have own thought how to spend 4.5m, but Zaitsev isn't a cap dump. Hard to believe that RHD who plays big minutes for a good NHL team isn't worth about 4.5m. It's just CapFriendly local legend.

A RHD with plenty of term left on his contract and you're trading him to free cap space? If that's not a cap dump, I'm not sure what is..

If he was worth his contract, you wouldn't trade him.

Well the Leafs need cap space. IMO, Zaitsev isn't the player to be traded. So don't include me in this CapFriendly frenzy of trading Zaitsev for nothing Leafs need all their NHL Dman after losing Gardiner, Hainsey and injured Dermot. Leafs have likely have cheaper NHL replacements at wing, so it's wingers are maybe Kadri that should be traded for cap reasons.

I'll make a silly comparison. Tampa signs Point and are over the cap this summer. They don't panic and give away Hedman for minimal because they are over the cap. No they look at their roster and trade for positions for strength. Might not get 100% value on the return but certainly they won't be panicking and giving playes away.

Agreed, I've heard plenty of Leaf fans says Zaitsev isn't useless. They just need to fix how they're deploying him. If I'm Dubas, I trade Kadri, Brown, and other wingers before Zaitsev. Zaitsev's value is down and he'd only create another roster spot to fill on D. He would be a cap dump now if they traded him.

Zaitsev does play heavy minutes for a good team. So he isn't useless. In the Leafs system, last year, his partner Gardiner did almost all of the up ice puck movement. When Gardiner was injured and Zaitsev was partnered with Muzzin they shared th puck movement and Zaitsev regained his confidence/touch with the puck. Zaitsev goes home for Russia and works on a very intensive training program. Wish he would stay in Toronto and work with the Leafs on his skills instead.
In my Leaf cap scenario the Leafs area about 6.75m over the cap when they sign their RFAs. Yep your scenario of Kadri/Brown being traded for futures might get Leafs cap compliant, and the Leafs do have replacement as you suggest. My favourite is a Nylander trade which many of my fellow Leaffans object to.
The Leafs aren't the only team that are going to have to shed cap due to the signings of RFAs. So there is going to be a buyers market, teams with for some fair to good NHLers.

The other factor people don't talk about is that the cap is likely to continue to rise. As it does, Zaitsev becomes cheaper. He can also be bought out in 2022 for not much cap space the way the deal is structured. Let's wait and see what some of the UFA RHD make this summer before we declare him extremely overpaid. He fills a position of need for Toronto, and he had a much better year in the playoffs. Plus, he has over 70% of his zone starts in the defensive end. Of course that undervalues him with numbers like corsi, etc. The opposition could win the faceoff and get a shot on net (even a goal against) without him doing anything wrong. I am not saying he's a star, just that he is a useful player who happens to play Toronto's neediest position.

Lots of people would rather have Colin Miller instead. Miller is a guy who has been sheltered his entire career and clearly didn't have his coaches confidence as he was healthy scratched last year. What makes everyone think he is this massive upgrade? At least you know what you are getting with Zaitsev and what he can handle. Shelter him like Miller and of course his numbers improve. Playing with Muzzin is only going to help his game, Gardner was not the right partner for him, but their options were limited.

I totally agree about dealing from wing depth and not from our greatest glaring weakness. IMO I would trade Johnsson for futures and then (if RD is still a problem) use those futures at the deadline to grab a guy on an expiring deal. The 2020 UFA market is loaded with RHD and getting a guy with term still on his deal makes it hard to be a player in that. UFA's only cost cap space and I would prefer this strategy to trading away a guy like Kadri who you will never replace for less money. Trading Nylander will be one of those trades you read about in 20 years in a "Worst trades in NHL history" article.