i think at this point id rather have zaitsev as a player and contract over EK

I hear you, but I also feel very strongly that EK65 should've never left OTT. That's his adopted home, and they did him dirty. This move would right a lot of wrongs, and be such a heart move for the OTT fans.

Canucks decline

While the sentiment is sweet and may still be true, that doesn't fix the hockey element and make a trade like this any better. It's just the sad reality of Erik Karlsson nowadays. Even if San Jose were to retain a full 50% of the contract and make Karlsson a $5.75M D-man, his current play isn't nearly worth that kind of deal. Karlsson is in cap dump territory, and so the Sens would be better off keeping Zaitsev and that 2nd.

Put simply, the Sens wouldn't be the ones adding picks in the deal there.

TBH I think that's one of the reasons he probably wouldn't waive to go back.

Well... the fantasy portends that he and they made amends.