Zaitsev and Brown traded to Ottawa

[CarltonTheBear]

This is like the Phaneuf trade. Ottawa’s motivations are so obviously exploitable.

#calledit

[RedLeaf]

A quick glance at Harpur's numbers reveal that he's bad... very bad. Might just be the Ottawa effect but I doubt it. The trade as a whole seems fine: we had to get out of Zaitsev's contract and we didn't take any contracts with term back. If the Leafs can flip both Harpur and Ceci for positive assets it comes out as a pretty big win.

If they flip Ceci I would call it a big win too. If they sign him for 4.3 million for one year, then I guess it was the best they could do under the circumstances, not terrible. My fear is they sign him to a multi-year deal at 4+ million a year.

Ok, but one of the most obvious things that we have discussed is that A) Ceci is possibly a downgrade on Z and 2) He won't save us any $ and 3) We need cap space. Why would he sign Ceci to term? This seems like such an obvious outcome that he won't since we need the cap space pretty badly right now.

Agreed. This feels like a total salary dump, but with a few added nuggets we can hopefully flip for picks.

[CarltonTheBear]

Brown obviously had no place on the team anymore, and deep down I'm sure he wanted to play somewhere where he wasn't just a 4th liner, but still this must be tough for him. Toronto kid who got picked in the 6th round and wasn't really expected to make the NHL. Worked his butt off to be come a NHLer for the team he rooted for growing up. He lived his childhood dream. I wish him the best of luck in Ottawa.

Zaitsev I don't care about in any possible way.

[herman]

This is like the Phaneuf trade. Ottawa’s motivations are so obviously exploitable.

#calledit

Like Lou did it very obviously last time, and Dubas strolls over and still squeezes an actual pick out of the proceedings.

[herman]

This blows open a huge hole in the Leafs PK scheme (pretty good during the season, exploited during the playoffs), so it’ll be interesting to see how we build this. Marincin definitely starting the season on the Leafs with Dermott in recovery until December. Up front we probably see Moore take on a PK role and Tavares taking draws.

Nick Shore and Kenny Agostino help too if they make the team.

[Bill_Berg]

A quick glance at Harpur's numbers reveal that he's bad... very bad. Might just be the Ottawa effect but I doubt it. The trade as a whole seems fine: we had to get out of Zaitsev's contract and we didn't take any contracts with term back. If the Leafs can flip both Harpur and Ceci for positive assets it comes out as a pretty big win.

If they flip Ceci I would call it a big win too. If they sign him for 4.3 million for one year, then I guess it was the best they could do under the circumstances, not terrible. My fear is they sign him to a multi-year deal at 4+ million a year.

Ok, but one of the most obvious things that we have discussed is that A) Ceci is possibly a downgrade on Z and 2) He won't save us any $ and 3) We need cap space. Why would he sign Ceci to term? This seems like such an obvious outcome that he won't since we need the cap space pretty badly right now.

Agreed. This feels like a total salary dump, but with a few added nuggets we can hopefully flip for picks.

Dreger has put the fear in me re something longer term. Probably Ceci signs for 4.3ish one year and this trade saves cap space in the future. In which case, good deal for 2020 and beyond, but it doesn't help much this year.

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

[herman]

Bill, remember the part where if Ceci filed for arbitration and he is awarded more than his QO the team can walk away from the contract? It’s cap space. Cap space is the currency the Leafs truly care about.

[Nik]

Yeah, I'll never say never but I'd be pretty shocked if we ever see Ceci in a Leafs uniform.

[Bill_Berg]

Bill, remember the part where if Ceci filed for arbitration and he is awarded more than his QO the team can walk away from the contract? It’s cap space. Cap space is the currency the Leafs truly care about.

I do remember that, but it means Ceci actually files for arbitration, and he may realize that no oe on the UFA market will sign him for 4+, leading him to sign the QO.

As far as walking away, I just find it hard to believe the team will be ruthless like that. I am more inclinded to believe they see value in Ceci and wouldn't just walk away. I mean if both Tor or Ott had walking away as an option, why was he in the trade at all? Ott could also have just walked away. So either he's signing the QO or Tor wants to play him. 

[herman]

Ceci plays a lot of minutes so he is eminently tradeable to any team that values a big minute RHD: Anaheim, Edmonton, etc.

E.g. Ceci for Matt Benning as a stop gap for bringing up Liljegren.
Or if Holland is stupid: Bracco and Ceci for Larsson.

[Nik]

As far as walking away, I just find it hard to believe the team will be ruthless like that. I am more inclinded to believe they see value in Ceci and wouldn't just walk away. I mean if both Tor or Ott had walking away as an option, why was he in the trade at all? Ott could also have just walked away.

Right, but as they've just committed to Zaitsev's deal it's clear that they value him. So they get what they feel is an upgrade on Ceci while the Leafs get the ability walk away from Ceci and free up cap space.

So Ottawa gets a defenseman, Leafs get space. Win win.

[Bill_Berg]

As far as walking away, I just find it hard to believe the team will be ruthless like that. I am more inclinded to believe they see value in Ceci and wouldn't just walk away. I mean if both Tor or Ott had walking away as an option, why was he in the trade at all? Ott could also have just walked away.

Right, but as they've just committed to Zaitsev's deal it's clear that they value him. So they get what they feel is an upgrade on Ceci while the Leafs get the ability walk away from Ceci and free up cap space.

So Ottawa gets a defenseman, Leafs get space. Win win.

Sure, but if both teams intend to walk away, couldn't the Sens have got Zaitsev without including Ceci in the deal? Did they want to move him? Did the Leafs want him included? One of those must be true right? If so, why did Ott care about moving him or why did the Leafs want him in return?

[bustaheims]

Decent deal. Brown will be missed on the PK, but otherwise was buried here. Leafs also have options with Ceci the sens were probably unlikely to use.

[Nik]

Sure, but if both teams intend to walk away, couldn't the Sens have got Zaitsev without including Ceci in the deal? Did they want to move him? Did the Leafs want him included? One of those must be true right? If so, why did Ott care about moving him or why did the Leafs want him in return?

My hunch is that the Leafs feel they can flip Ceci for something or other. So getting him, and some value, was probably part of the deal on their part.

I think walking away is seen as sort of a last resort option but one they're still happy to have.

[Strangelove]

Great salary dump. All of Babcock’s favourite deadweight players are being unloaded. Perfect offseason so far.