Zaitsev and Brown traded to Ottawa

[Guilt Trip]

I don't like this, it smells like a desperation move when it's not warranted. Zaitsev is overpaid, but he's hardly a liability. He plays some really hard physical minutes, is an above average skater, and won't be as easy to replace as some people think.

If he wants out, fine, but the idea of having to give up any asset whatsoever or take any bad contract back in my book is a mistake. If they can't move him, then let him walk to the khl and wipe his contract that way.

I don't see any desperation in this move. Zaitsev wants out, Leafs want his contract gone, pretty simple. If the asset is giving up Brown, that's not a big deal. He's getting traded for nothing anyway. They need his cap space. If they don't sign Ceci they've gained 6.6 in cap space. I'm sure we'll have the details tomorrow, but as of now, I like the move.

[CarltonTheBear]

It seems pretty universally accepted that Ceci wouldn't get a pay cut if he went through arbitration again, but I'm not so sure that's true. Let's remember last year it was Ceci vs. Ottawa's dumb management team. I'd imagine the Leafs would be able to argue a significantly better case against Ceci earning $4mil+ than they were. Keep in mind all advanced stats on NHL.com are fair game in arbitration hearings.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

Whatever happens I don't really want to see Ceci on our defense this season. Rather than trying to make other crappy teams' crappy cast offs work, bite the bullet and put the Marlie grads out there. Re-sign Hainsey as a 5/6 mentor. Then take your lumps while they learn. Maybe even miss the playoffs. Most of the fix on d is going to have to come internally.

[RedLeaf]

Whatever happens I don't really want to see Ceci on our defense this season. Rather than trying to make other crappy teams' crappy cast offs work, bite the bullet and put the Marlie grads out there. Re-sign Hainsey as a 5/6 mentor. Then take your lumps while they learn. Maybe even miss the playoffs. Most of the fix on d is going to have to come internally.

Missing the playoffs this year would have enormous ramifications and consequences that would ripple through the entire management and coaching staff of this team. Im quite certain they will try and avoid that situation from occurring at all costs.

My guess would be they use the newly found cap space to not only get Marner signed but also Gardiner. Then if they get lucky perhaps they find another D-man on the cheap from the pool of free agents. With that and a combination of some Marlie graduates, the D would be mostly set .

Rielly, Muzzin, Dermott, Gardiner, Lilligren, Sandin, Rosen (Hainsey, Ceci or defender-X)

If that defence doesn’t pan out as planned, option B is employed and a forward is traded for an upgrade on D during the season.

[CarltonTheBear]

Ceci will likely get around $5 mil in arbitration. If he plays well the Leafs can extend in January. Likely a 5 year ext...again around $5 mil per.  Trade has to happen before any of this and there could be other elements involved. https://t.co/yMyE7uzY3M

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 30, 2019

Imagine believing the team with the biggest analytics group in the history of the NHL would consider signing Ceci to this contract.

[Deebo]

I would have thought some more details about the full deal would have surfaced by now.

[Guilt Trip]

Ceci will likely get around $5 mil in arbitration. If he plays well the Leafs can extend in January. Likely a 5 year ext...again around $5 mil per.  Trade has to happen before any of this and there could be other elements involved. https://t.co/yMyE7uzY3M

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 30, 2019

Imagine believing the team with the biggest analytics group in the history of the NHL would consider signing Ceci to this contract.

Dreger spewing crap again. I dont see Ceci even playing for the Leafs. I think they trade him or walk away from arb. Also think if Brown is involved the Leafs gain 6.6 mill in space and could see them offering Gardiner a contract.

[Bender]

Ceci will likely get around $5 mil in arbitration. If he plays well the Leafs can extend in January. Likely a 5 year ext...again around $5 mil per.  Trade has to happen before any of this and there could be other elements involved. https://t.co/yMyE7uzY3M

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 30, 2019

Imagine believing the team with the biggest analytics group in the history of the NHL would consider signing Ceci to this contract.

Dreger spewing crap again. I dont see Ceci even playing for the Leafs. I think they trade him or walk away from arb. Also think if Brown is involved the Leafs gain 6.6 mill in space and could see them offering Gardiner a contract.

That makes a lot of sense. Ship of Z, walk away from Ceci, get cap space to spend on Gards. I like it. I think we really can't afford to lose Jake and as of right now everyone is in flux. Hopefully they manage to pull a rabbit out of a hat somewhere.

[CarltonTheBear]

https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2019/6/30/20123859/toronto-maple-leafs-trade-nikita-zaitsev-cody-ceci-connor-brown-i-had-to-read-the-cba-for-this

A good look at the potential options for what the Leafs can do with Ceci. An interesting idea they mentioned is to sign Ceci to a 1-year deal that's mostly signing bonuses and then trying to trade him after that's paid.

[Big Daddy]

Let's hope Ceci goes to arbitration.  Then we let him walk.  If he doesn't then we should trade him for picks.  Sign Gardiner then pick up Phaneuf and resign Hainsey for a combined 3M then we have
Rielly-Muzzin
Dermott-Gardiner
Hainsey-Phaneuf
Holl or Marincin

[princedpw]

https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2019/6/30/20123859/toronto-maple-leafs-trade-nikita-zaitsev-cody-ceci-connor-brown-i-had-to-read-the-cba-for-this

A good look at the potential options for what the Leafs can do with Ceci. An interesting idea they mentioned is to sign Ceci to a 1-year deal that's mostly signing bonuses and then trying to trade him after that's paid.

It would be hilarious if they did this and then traded him back to Ottawa for some draft picks. I’d definitely take a 2nd or two.

[bustaheims]

If Ceci just signs his QO, I’m sure the Leafs can move him if they retain 50%. It would mean less free space than we want, but if it is Zaitsev and Brown, it would essentially be clearing $4.5M minus the cost of the replacement players.

[KW Sluggo]

I don't like this, it smells like a desperation move when it's not warranted. Zaitsev is overpaid, but he's hardly a liability. He plays some really hard physical minutes, is an above average skater, and won't be as easy to replace as some people think.

If he wants out, fine, but the idea of having to give up any asset whatsoever or take any bad contract back in my book is a mistake. If they can't move him, then let him walk to the khl and wipe his contract that way.

I don't see any desperation in this move. Zaitsev wants out, Leafs want his contract gone, pretty simple. If the asset is giving up Brown, that's not a big deal. He's getting traded for nothing anyway. They need his cap space. If they don't sign Ceci they've gained 6.6 in cap space. I'm sure we'll have the details tomorrow, but as of now, I like the move.

Why do the Leafs want Zaitsev's contract gone?

It's not that bad a contract.

They will be paying at least that much for a comparable replacement, for example, it looks like they will be paying that much right off the bat for Ceci who will take the QO unless he is a complete idiot.

Sure the Leafs will be out from under in a year but they are screwed for next year and a year from now with the TV rights coming up for renogitiation you can expect the remaining years on Zaitsev's contract will look rather inexpensive at that point in time.

All of this is without any consideration being given to the argument that Zaitsev may have been misused by the Leafs for the last season and a half.

Why are the leafs trying to take a position with a pronounced weakness and trying to make it weaker still? First Marincin, now Ceci.

The notion that we are allegedly adding a "sweetener" after paying a $3M bonus tomorrow make this potential trade even more ridiculous.

WTFU Dubas!!!

[Bill_Berg]

I doubt the Leafs traded for Ceci with the intention of walking away from him. He's going to play for the Leafs next year as unfortunate as that sounds. Or maybe he'll be traded.

[KW Sluggo]

More defence dumpster diving.
JFC.