missioncanucksfan Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 The Vancouver Canucks will be scouting pending KHL free agent Nikita Zaitsev, a physical 24-year-old right-handed shooting defenseman, at a tournament this upcoming week. They're not going to be the only NHL team with interest though. Not by a long shot. "There's a Russian prospect coming overseas next year, Nikita Zaitsev," reported Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman during Hockey Night in Canada's 'Headlines' segment. "His agent Todd Diamond said today he's definitely coming over."There will be teams going over to see him in a tournament this week: Philadelphia, Toronto, L.A., Vancouver, Calgary are among those teams that have looked into him. And there will be more. Already some teams are going over to meet with him and see where his interests are." There's a lot to like about Zaitsev's game. He's still in his prime, and he's a thick-bodied defenseman that has produced points at a good rate in the KHL over the past couple of years. He's got a heavy shot, and has NHL-size. And he's available to teams with zero acquisition cost.Zaitsev will be subject to the entry-level system for one year, so attracting him will require teams to craft a pitch based on 'fit' and 'opportunity', since interested clubs will be unable to materially outbid each other. If the potential bidding war is as intense as it figures to be, then Zaitsev will surely get a max one-year deal with generous performances bonuses.A young international free agent with Zaitsev's two-way profile may be particularly interesting for the Canucks because of his right-handed shot. The Russian-born defenseman will turn 25-years-old early next season, so he'd be a clear NHL-level signing and based on his 12-goals in 57 KHL contests a year ago, if the Canucks can land Zaitsev, he may make for an intriguing fit on Vancouver's first power-play unit with the Sedin twins.The PCS model only produces three defenseman as comparable players for Zaitsev, all of them played in the inaugural season of KHL action and none of the three ever played games in the NHL. The lack of current NHL players with a similar track record to Zaitsev's is concerning, although, the lack of comparables is generally a positive indicator and this seems like a unique circumstance because of the KHL's expansion status in 2008. http://canucksarmy.com/2015/10/31/report-canucks-among-several-nhl-teams-set-to-scout-khl-free-agent-nikita-zaitsev-this-week Big RHS at the cost of zero assets would be nice.Won't be getting my hopes up after the Matt O'Connor sweepstakes and a few others we missed out on.I like the level playing field tho. We dont have to throw $55 mil to perk his ears. Simply a matter of which team is going to offer him to most ice-time and opportunities.Regardless....this would be a blessing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Don't these guys most often end up on the east coast - direct flight to Europe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c00kies Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Why does everyone suddenly want a Nikita so badly? Is everyone quiting smoking at the same time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gstank29 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 http://canucksarmy.com/2015/10/31/report-canucks-among-several-nhl-teams-set-to-scout-khl-free-agent-nikita-zaitsev-this-week Big RHS at the cost of zero assets would be nice.Won't be getting my hopes up after the Matt O'Connor sweepstakes and a few others we missed out on.I like the level playing field tho. We dont have to throw $55 mil to perk his ears. Simply a matter of which team is going to offer him to most ice-time and opportunities.Regardless....this would be a blessingYou are going to have to throw some huge bonus cash his way. IDK what we could really sell him on though, we don't have any Russians, we aren't a Cup contender, I guess you could sell him on the City and Willie but thats going to be hard when his English is probably at the same level as a fifth grader. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gstank29 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Why does everyone suddenly want a Nikita so badly? Is everyone quiting smoking at the same time?Right hand shot with a heck of a shot. That and the fact that he plays a pretty physical game usually mean he will translate quite well to the North American game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missioncanucksfan Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 Ya, it would be cool to see Benning/Linden and the Russian and agent negotiate the bonus definitions respective rates.In any case. .....it's not MY money, so ya I'd be willing to try that perspective Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Thanks to the previous regime who treated Shirokov so badly, you think any russian will sign here from the KHL ha ha ha! This guy will call Shirokov and then you guess lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadendpath Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Thanks to the previous regime who treated Shirokov so badly, you think any russian will sign here from the KHL ha ha ha! This guy will call Shirokov and then you guess lol Keywords being "previous regime" lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaudette Celly Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Thanks to the previous regime who treated Shirokov so badly, you think any russian will sign here from the KHL ha ha ha! This guy will call Shirokov and then you guess lol DesiLogic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 DesiLogicI'm sure this Russian is like drooling to come to Vancouver; teams like Pittisburgh are in the running MALKIN says hello next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Strome Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Thanks to the previous regime who treated Shirokov so badly, you think any russian will sign here from the KHL ha ha ha! This guy will call Shirokov and then you guess lol Lmao so all Russians know each other?Russia is what 150 million people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket. Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 What about Vladimir Putin? Heard the guy scores about 10 goals a game. "Putin is a dynamic, smooth skating player who can shoot the puck in the net and set up his teammates"- Bob Mckenzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edlerberry Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Why does everyone suddenly want a Nikita so badly? Is everyone quiting smoking at the same time?that is such a 'peg joke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiggs50 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Crazy good slapshot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Don't these guys most often end up on the east coast - direct flight to Europe?Flights over the arctic circle are just as fast... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Lmao so all Russians know each other?Russia is what 150 million people?Isnt that more like how many Russian's died in world wars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice orca Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Thanks to the previous regime who treated Shirokov so badly, you think any russian will sign here from the KHL ha ha ha! This guy will call Shirokov and then you guess lol You understand the head honcho of the previous regime was Bure's agent. Maybe Shirokov just stunk when he was here. Maybe Bo-Sang will call all his buddies in the AHL and tell them not to sign with Benning's Nucks. Haha lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edlerberry Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baer. Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 He wont come here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Some more right handed depth on D would be nice but that's probably all it would be. Good for Zaitsev that he's putting together a career year at 24 in the KHL and will have the chance to turn it into a NHL contract. But these types of players rarely become impact players in the NHL. I guess we'll see, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.