b3. Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 As expected, not to bad of a last few days for the Maple Leafs organization. Quote The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Russian defenceman Nikita Zaitsev to a one-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported back in January that the Russian free agent planned on signing with the Maple Leafs. Zaitsev registered eight goals, 18 assists and 20 penalty minutes in 46 regular season games with CSKA Moscow in the KHLthis past season. He also added 13 points in 20 playoff games, which was tied for the most playoff points among KHL defenceman. The 24-year-old is a two-time KHL all star who totalled 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists) and 156 penalty minutes in 317 career KHL regular season games. Zaitsev is set to represent Russia at the upcoming 2016 IIHF World Championships. Undrafted in NHL, Zaitsev was taken fourth overall in the 2009 KHL Draft. He is regarded as a strong-skating, offensively gifted blueliner blessed with NHL size. The Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings had reportedly expressed interest in the Moscow native. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-sign-russian-defenceman-nikita-zaitsev/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HC20.0 Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Yeah he made it known that he wanted to go to Toronto. Not surprising. Good pick up by the Leafs. Still, screw the Leafs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toews Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 I held out a bit of hope that it wasn't true but the reports were there much earlier in the year. The last guy that got as much hype as Zaitsev was Alexei Emelin who had a couple good years as a #4 but now seems like a bottom pairing defenseman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R3aL Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Just making pigs of themselves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SedinMadness Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 good on leafs! i am a true canuck fan but i want all canadian teams to do well, well except the oilers lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Vanderhoek Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 1 hour ago, Toews said: I held out a bit of hope that it wasn't true but the reports were there much earlier in the year. The last guy that got as much hype as Zaitsev was Alexei Emelin who had a couple good years as a #4 but now seems like a bottom pairing defenseman. take a closer look at his production and skillset, he will be a very productive offensive blueliner in the NHL when its all said and done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 http://www.generalfanager.com/players/2301 One year $925,000... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklehead44 Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Great signing by the Leafs. My friends in Toronto are very happy. Matthews, Raptors to the 2nd round, and Zaitsev. Hopefully our time is the free agent market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmonberries Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Leafs rebuild program continues to impress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanuck Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Even with this signing, which I'm sure TO fans are happy with, their D is far from formidable. Not that ours is light-years better mind you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaudette Celly Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 49 minutes ago, Salmonberries said: Leafs rebuild program continues to impress. So totally impressive how they gutted their team for little in return, beat 80% odds after deliberately icing an uncompetitive team all year to win a lottery, and signed a player who intended to do so all along. Amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NucksPatsFan Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 1 minute ago, Hutton Wink said: So totally impressive how they gutted their team for little in return, beat 80% odds after deliberately icing an uncompetitive team all year to win a lottery, and signed a player who intended to do so all along. Amazing. Yeah 3 2nd round picks and 2 4th rounds pick is so little, I mean why even bother? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockhart Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 Should be a playoff bubble team adding him, Matthews, Stamkos and a few more UFA's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHL rocks Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 He'll be a top 4 Dman next year and possibly become a top pair Dman in 3 years. This on top of a 1C they'll draft in AM. Not to mention the 12 odd picks they have this draft. Doing it the right way. TO has a great mgmt team plus the best coach in the NHL. They know what they're doing, not confused like us. They'll continue to build thru the draft and go hard after John Tavares when he hits UFA in 2 years. Bright future ahead for the Leafs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnews Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 11 hours ago, WHL rocks said: He'll be a top 4 Dman next year and possibly become a top pair Dman in 3 years. This on top of a 1C they'll draft in AM. Not to mention the 12 odd picks they have this draft. Doing it the right way. TO has a great mgmt team plus the best coach in the NHL. They know what they're doing, not confused like us. They'll continue to build thru the draft and go hard after John Tavares when he hits UFA in 2 years. Bright future ahead for the Leafs. You're the one who is confused - and part of that is confusing yourself with a prophet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaudette Celly Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 22 hours ago, NucksPatsFan said: Yeah 3 2nd round picks and 2 4th rounds pick is so little, I mean why even bother? And the odds of those becoming NHL players at all? Perhaps one or two, at best. Magic beans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 The Toronto rebuild continues to gain traction, good signing for them. Makes me sick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NucksPatsFan Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 3 hours ago, Hutton Wink said: And the odds of those becoming NHL players at all? Perhaps one or two, at best. Magic beans. Gotta buy lotto tickets to have a chance at winning. At the very least they get serviceable AHL players, at the very best they get productive NHL roster players or package those highly coveted draft picks for a return. In any situation, they get something rather than nothing when UFA's walk because they're not re-signed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaBamba Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 7 hours ago, Hutton Wink said: And the odds of those becoming NHL players at all? Perhaps one or two, at best. Magic beans. Mark Hunter is an excellent eye for talent. Everyone will soon realize lou lamoriello is no joke. He built a highly competitive Devils team that competed for decades with no superstars. He worked with a salary cap 10 years before they made it official and still won cups. The Devils were absolutely garbage since their inception, Lou saved that franchise. I don't care what anyone says, he is the best team builder I have seen in my lifetime. He seems to be back in a groove now and it's only a matter of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaudette Celly Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 5 hours ago, NucksPatsFan said: Gotta buy lotto tickets to have a chance at winning. At the very least they get serviceable AHL players, at the very best they get productive NHL roster players or package those highly coveted draft picks for a return. In any situation, they get something rather than nothing when UFA's walk because they're not re-signed. And your proof for that? Most draft picks never turn into "serviceable AHL players", let alone NHLers. "Gotta be in it to win it!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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