[Signing] Leafs sign Zaitsev to a 7 year extension ($4.5 mil AAV)

[sureLoss]

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
As was reported earlier by @TSNBobMcKenzie, Nikita Zaitsev is closing on seven-year extension with TOR. AAV would be $4.5, from what I hear

One of the better Euro free agents to come over.

[devo22]

wow that's a heck of a commitment to a first year NHLer

[StrykerSteve]

Damn, 7 years.

[Roof-Daddy]

Man these guys are like found money. Kind of frustrating watching them always go to Chicago, Toronto, Boston and the Rangers mostly.

Good sized, right handed, mobile, puck moving, top 4 Dman in his prime. Who couldn't use that?

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Man these guys are like found money. Kind of frustrating watching them always go to Chicago, Toronto, Boston and the Rangers mostly.

Good sized, right handed, mobile, puck moving, top 4 Dman in his prime. Who couldn't use that?

Torontos never been short of money. Just short of brains to manage and coach the roster.

[Bear]

Flames were in on this guy before he chose the Leafs were they not?

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
As was reported earlier by @TSNBobMcKenzie, Nikita Zaitsev is closing on seven-year extension with TOR. AAV would be $4.5, from what I hear

One of the better Euro free agents to come over.

This is deal I'm hoping the Flames sign Bennett to. 4-4.5 for 7-8 years

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

This is deal I'm hoping the Flames sign Bennett to. 4-4.5 for 7-8 years

Wow. he doesn't even deserve 2 years for that money. The absolute most he should be getting is 2 years at $2.5 million per and that's pushing it.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Bear

Flames were in on this guy before he chose the Leafs were they not?

According to Friedman, Flames, Flyers, LA, Canucks, and Leafs were the most interested in him.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Wow. he doesn't even deserve 2 years for that money. The absolute most he should be getting is 2 years at $2.5 million per and that's pushing it.

It's a gamble to be sure but there is zero benefit to signing Bennett to a bridge deal. That saves us cap space when we don't need it and leaves us open to being cap strapped once Tkachuk is off his elc. If the team believes in Bennett's potential, why not bring his cap down over an 8 year deal? They paid Brower 4.5 mil for god sakes. I don't think Bennett should be paid any more than 1.5 mil on a bridge deal based on his performance thus far. If you could get him for 4-4.5 for 8 years, I think that's a gamble worth making. At worst he's a hard nosed 3rd liner with skill. I'd rather pay Bennett 4.5 than waste it on Brower. Pay Vegas to select Brower and they're all set.

[dissentowner]

Sam Bennett is going to want a bridge. No way he signs a deal for that long at that cap hit when he probably sees himself as developing into a top line C.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

This is deal I'm hoping the Flames sign Bennett to. 4-4.5 for 7-8 years

Way to much risk.

[heep223]

How is a 25 year old Russian d-man playing his first NHL season after defecting from the KHL in any way related to Sam Bennett's situation? Am I missing something?

[savardandjokinen]

He's a good dman, very underrated, but there is definitely risk in this contract. I think something around 4 years would've been better, but time will tell I suppose.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by heep223

How is a 25 year old Russian d-man playing his first NHL season after defecting from the KHL in any way related to Sam Bennett's situation? Am I missing something?

It's also worth nothing that had we not drafted Jankowski where we did, there were a few players picked after him who would have looked good on our current roster.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Sam Bennett is going to want a bridge. No way he signs a deal for that long at that cap hit when he probably sees himself as developing into a top line C.

(1.5milX2)+3.5mil +(6milX5)=36.5mil

36.5/8=4.56mil

Not a bad hedge for ol Sam. How much more than 6 mil a year does he really think he's going to make? What if it doesn't all come together for him.?Risk on both sides, benefits on both sides.

[Bezer]

I really think he is a decent defensemen for sure but 7 years seems like a big commitment

[Dr. Doom]

The term is outrageous 4 years tops for this guy.
Subject to a lot of leafs games... is he good for a diamond in the rough? Sure.
Is he a defensive liability at times? Big time. I've seen him forget where he is on the ice countless times.

That and of course... 7 years?

Desperation move IMO, Leafs do need to shore up their D.

But he'll always need someone defensive minded to play beside...

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

(1.5milX2)+3.5mil +(6milX5)=36.5mil

36.5/8=4.56mil

Not a bad hedge for ol Sam. How much more than 6 mil a year does he really think he's going to make? What if it doesn't all come together for him.?Risk on both sides, benefits on both sides.

Too much risk for the team. If things don't work out you've just ended up with the next Rick Dipietro. Signing a contract like that for a player could either place extreme expectations that players struggle with (Monahan, Gaudreau, Kopitar, etc) or complacency because no matter what they do, they're going to earn the same guaranteed paycheck for the next x amount of years.

Better to gamble that we end up overpaying a little later on because Bennett is that good instead of the other scenario. The only time we'd look back and wish we signed him to a 6x6 off the bat is probably if he becomes the Subban equivalent in his progression.

[savemedrzaius]

Good deal. Leafs are getting him in hopefully his prime years. Getting a top 4 pairing defenceman for under 5 million a year...I'll take it. He's great with the outlet pass and steady defensively.