Quoting: gretzkyghosts
Fourth, Brannstrom (only 10 mo older) is miles ahead of Docker.
Erik has played in 152 NHL games v only 22 for Jacob.
Even the harshest critic should not consider Erik a bust.
I understand where you're coming from but you can't draw that conclusion with NHL games played
Brannstrom was playing pro hockey in Sweden at a very young age, he was a top prospect. He was expected to make the NHL fast but since he went back and forth to the AHL, some were calling him a bust
JBD was more of a project who went the college route. This is only JBD 2nd pro season and he only played 11 AHL games and 9 NHL games this season so far. Like I said, he was establishing himself in the NHL just before his injury. He's back to the AHL because Sens now have 6 healthy D-man and they want JBD to play as much as possible. They have actually been pleased with his development
Quoting: gretzkyghosts
On the other hand the strongest supporter of Jacob may to search deep to find evidence that he will be more than a fringe NHL performer.
I guess it depends what you mean by "fringe" but he will not be a star and will not put a lot of points but should be a quality NHL player. He was already the best defensive D-man in Belleville last season as a rookie. There was even a huge sequence of games where they didn't get scored an ES goal against when he was on the ice. That's his bread and butter, to be good defensively
I doubt that anybody who followed him in ND, team Canada, AHL and NHL would think that he will become a 6th/7th D-man at best.
Quoting: gretzkyghosts
Fifth, which was my original point and I may obfuscated the issue but for a team to take on Nikita's salary it would cost a bit more than a second ergo a late first or Docker.
Finally, It would be foolish to pay any price to move Zaitsev when the SENS do not have cap issues.
Yes, absolutely no reason to trade him now if the price is going to be higher than next off-season
Pay his bonus in July, THEN trade him for a lesser cost. Team acquiring him could just buy him out for cheap ($) OR just use him to reach the cap floor (2.5 salary, 4.5 AAV)