Oh man that's delusional. I don't have time to go over all the ways this doesnt work. Maybe for your sake somebody will

I seriously considered making an account named "Posting on delusional threads" but it was too much work.

The simple idea that Zaitsev holds no value is the problem. He clearly doesn't like the way Babcock uses him and how the media and fans have piled on him because of it. Dubas would be a fool to take a deal like this because he would great a gaping hole where there is already significant weakness.

So Toronto doesn't get cap space .... swaps for a worse defender AND gives up their best forward prospect. I think what goulet said is accurate .... the media and fans in toronto are really piling on to Zaitsev so a point that people think Dubas will have to add a high draft pick/prospect to dump his salary .... the same people are also saying stuff like "We'd be lucky to get a bucket of pucks for Nylander."

oh man busy guy

I think its more of a CapFriendly fascination the says. the Zaitsev has no value. Zaitsev plays important minutes for a good NHL team. Compare his minutes, on ice value, salary to similar players/teams think it would show value is OK. Now I think his five year term might be tough trade who might want future cap flexibility. But his 4.5m salary is OK value.

This trade really doesn't work for either team...Leafs' objectives this summer include opening up cap space and filling out their D with younger players that can be built around...this trade achieves neither- sure, they get out from under the 3rd-5th years of Zaitsev- but the immediate cap savings still leaves them looking to dump lots more....Smith at 1/2 retained...or Pionk...or a young prospect- Lindgren or Rykov...maybe any of these options would get the talk started from a Toronto standpoint- but now the Rangers are stuck with another D they want to unload...so unless Bracco means that much to the Rangers- and I understand him to be a good (not great) prospect- this trade makes no sense on the Ranger end.