Zaitsev for Ceci

[Axeman33]

I think Ben Harpur could give the Leafs really good value. I'd rather him than Hainsey.

Based on what? Hes not a good Dman. The eyes tell you that when you watch him and the analytics show that too. Unless the Leafs are looking to improve their fighting stats, hes not offering much more.

[FrozenInferno]

well this makes no sense to me...I thought they wanted to save cap space. Instead, they trade Zaitsev AND Brown and sign Ceci for the same money that Zaitsev was earning. I actually think Zaitsev is a better dman as well, so this is very, very odd.

This deal doesn't seem to solve any of Toronto's problems. They aren't any stronger on defense and they still have cap issues.

It makes perfect sense when you only have one year of Ceci vs five more years of Zaitsev. Long term cap savings.

[SeaDawg]

It makes perfect sense when you only have one year of Ceci vs five more years of Zaitsev. Long term cap savings.

I guess...it just pushes the issue down the road a bit. Ceci will be up for another contract the year after and then he will get MORE than Zaitsev.

Or, they just let Ceci walk, or deal him.

I don't see how this helps them all that much. Short-term, their defense still sucks and they have cap issues. Long-term, they still have to find a RHD to replace Ceci/Zaitsev and they still have cap issues.

[Eskimo Brother]

I guess...it just pushes the issue down the road a bit. Ceci will be up for another contract the year after and then he will get MORE than Zaitsev.

Or, they just let Ceci walk, or deal him.

I don't see how this helps them all that much. Short-term, their defense still sucks and they have cap issues. Long-term, they still have to find a RHD to replace Ceci/Zaitsev and they still have cap issues.

It's the flexibility. That's the win here. They can re-sign him, but they don't HAVE to.

[FrozenInferno]

I guess...it just pushes the issue down the road a bit. Ceci will be up for another contract the year after and then he will get MORE than Zaitsev.

Or, they just let Ceci walk, or deal him.

I don't see how this helps them all that much. Short-term, their defense still sucks and they have cap issues. Long-term, they still have to find a RHD to replace Ceci/Zaitsev and they still have cap issues.

There's zero chance Ceci is a Leaf beyond this season. If he had forced the arbitration angle he'd be gone even before this summer was over. Leafs will let him walk for sure. This was forced on us because of Zaitsev asking for a trade so we used the opportunity to get out from a bad 5yr commitment.

We might have to eat a year of crappy D then see what the options are next summer for the $4.5M it'll open up. Unless there are more moves coming.

[als_revenge]

Based on what? Hes not a good Dman. The eyes tell you that when you watch him and the analytics show that too. Unless the Leafs are looking to improve their fighting stats, hes not offering much more.

Based on my eyeballs; I think he could provide value on the PK and as a 6th D. He makes next to nothing, so it's not like he was a cap dump. Why would Toronto include him in the package if they didn't want him in some capacity?

[hockeymanG23]

lmao, of course ottawa gave up a third-round pick in addition to helping the Leafs shed $6.6m in salary. Just incredible.

The Sens are most likely adding value because Toronto is helping them get to the cap floor without having to send the actual $$$