Would The Leafs Like To Trade Nikita Zaitsev?

Salary cap issues aren't really a concern for Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, as the team currently has around $13million in cap space. While some of that cap space will go to William Nylander, the team will gain some extra space when they place Nathan Horton back on long term injured reserve. Despite the Leafs being one of the teams with great cap space, every team has at least one contract they'd like to get rid of and the Leafs' likely sits on the blue line. ProHockeyRumors.com recently took a look at contracts each team would like to trade and for the Leafs they chose defenseman Nikita Zaitsev. The 26 year old is signed through 2023-24 with a $4.5million cap hit, just $500k less than Morgan Rielly. After turning heads during his first season in the NHL with 36 points, he spent most of the 2017-18 season looking like a shell of the player we saw in 2016-17. Do you think Zaitsev will have a bounce back season or do you think he'll find himself a healthy scratch throughout the season?

MUST READ

3 hours ago  |  By Dean Chaudhry John Tavares Makes His Intentions With the Maple Leafs Very Clear

5 hours ago  |  By Dean Chaudhry The Maple Leafs May Need to Have a Difficult Conversation With Auston Matthews

7 hours ago  |  By Mike Armenti Two Popular Toronto Podcasters Let Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly Have It Amid Rough Stretch

9 hours ago  |  By Mike Armenti William Nylander Fully in Rocket Richard Trophy Race, But His Priorities Are Elsewhere

10 hours ago  |  By Nick Matthews Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Shares Blunt Assessment After Disappointing Loss to Islanders

11 hours ago  |  By Ryan Smitheram Craig Berube Snapped at Leafs During an Early Timeout; Nylander Reveals What Was Said

12 hours ago  |  By Ryan Smitheram Craig Berube Shares What Little Information He Can About Leafs Captain Auston Matthews

Dec 21  |  By Mike Armenti Maple Leafs Make Questionable Roster Decision With Auston Matthews Out of the Lineup

MORE STORIES