Yeah ... but not really though.

I completely a agree with Random2152. Anyone who has even the tiniest sense of intelligence will know that the Leafs won this trade. The three other the ways someone could believe Toronto lost (which they didn't) are they're being paid to write stupid stuff, they're spouting propaganda, or they don't know how to read and/or write.

I still can't believe this trade actually took place. I still can't believe the Sens took Zaitsev's contract AND gave a 3rd round pick as well in this trade. You CANNOT be giving Get Out of Jail free cards to divisional rivals like this! WTF!!!
If I'm ANY other GM in the league, and the Leaf's GM is calling asking for you to take Zaitsev's FIVE MORE YEARS @ 4.5M caphit!!!! I'm hanging up the phone unless its VERY enticing.
Don't get me wrong. Carcone is a great AHL'er, and will really help Belleville. Independently would maybe be worth a 5th or 6th round pick.
Brown is a decent middle six forward whom the Sens can flip at the TDL for 2nd or 3rd.
Zaitsev is a major negative asset, and if it cost the Leafs a 1st round pick for one year of Marleau at 6.5 Mil, then you'd imagine the ask for FIVE years @ 4.5Mil would be a 1st, a bluechip prospect and maybe a serviceable roster player.

You know what the funny thing is here? Reading all the comments about how bad Ceci will be with the Leafs.

So every D man makes mistakes and as long as people are honest about this, Ceci has not looked as terrible as people were predicting he would be.

I never thought Zaitsev was bad. He played big minutes and some "heavy" minutes on a good team. Ceci. It's easy for Dman to look bad on a bad team. Your are right, Ceci has been OK with the Leaf, but in ACGMs, many get an impression of a player and they just can't change it. Like the trade for the Leafs, by moving Ceci for Zaitsev the Leafs get four years of 4.5m of cap freedom next summer.

This is how I view this trade:


1. Nikita Zaitsev for Cody Ceci ---- Edge to Toronto, only because of contracts at the time

2. Michael Carcone for Aaron Luchuk ---- Fair

3. Connor Brown for Ben Harpur and a 3rd round pick ---- Massive fleecing by Ottawa



Only reason why more people voted for Toronto is because their fanbase on Capfriendly is bigger.

Ottawa wins.