"yikes" is right if you actually think both of those trades even get considered by either team.

Sir, that Toronto trade is Blasphemous

So why exactly would Toronto trade the better defenceman who is right handed for a much worse one who shoots the wrong way and also give up a guy who looks really good as a top 6 forward in the NHL?

I wouldn't go as far as to say Zaitsev is better than Russell, but at best it's a lateral move. Both are third pairing guys. & it's not even really a cap savings since Russell makes only $500K less than Zaitsev. & giving up Johnsson in the process? Absolutely no sense and I doubt Toronto even considers that.

explain please. russell makes 500k less for 3 less years and does the exact same job. need some enticement to take on zaitsev's albatross.

russell makes 500k less for 3 less years and does the exact same job. need some enticement to take on zaitsev's albatross. also to the other guy, if johnsson cant even make the top 6 on edmonton, how would he anywhere else. thats a top 9 forward.

I just believe Russell is really overrated and Zaitsev is also 4 years younger and been playing pretty well this year. Yeah his contract is brutal but i dont think they trade him soon or for another similar d man, especially with liljegren + sandin in the system

Toronto doesn't need to "entice" Edmonton to take on Zaitsev's contract for any reason. $500K isn't that much of the cap to also lose a young guy like Johnsson. Leafs also won't move a RHD for a LHD that are at best the same, Zaitsev might be a little better anyways.
& LOL you think Johnsson doesn't crack Edmonton's top 6? .. 100% guarantee he'd play with McDavid if he was on the Oilers on their top line. He frequently plays top 6 minutes in Toronto on either Matthews or Tavares wing, and Toronto offense is far and away better than Edmonton's.

its not the aav thats concerning, its the 5 years left on his deal as opposed to 2. if johnsson is as fantastic as you say obviously hes gonna be too rich for torontos blood yeah?

thats the reason you do it. youre done with russell in 2 years when those two take over. dont need to rush them into the lineup this year

It's not concerning enough to take on another LHD that's worse, and give up Johnsson. & Johnsson is good if you actually watch hockey or the Leafs, he'll be an affordable winger. under $3M that can play anywhere in the lineup

hes not worse and he plays the right side. zaitsev's only plus is being a right shot who penalty kills (russell plays the right side and the PK).

so if Russell and Zaitsev do the same thing (as you say), and Zaitsev only makes $500K more, what reasoning does Toronto have to move him for Russell AND give up a very good young player? You said the 5 years of Zaitsev.. that's not enough of a concern to get a similar dman thats the wrong hand that the Leafs need, and be giving up another asset for. Toronto could easily move Zaitsev in a bigger deal for a much better dman than Russell. Russell is of no use to Toronto at all.

Russell has blocked more shots than Zaitsev in 9 less games. Russell has a lot of intangibles and even as an oilers fan, I would hate to see Russell go for Zaitsev.

Have you also taken into account that Edmonton has taken far more penalty minutes than Toronto so Russell has more opportunity to block shots?
Also, there's no question that Zaitsev skates better and moves the puck better so I'd happily keep Zaitsev on Toronto over Russell.

As for your stat.. Russell has 93 blocks in 34 games, that's 2.7 blocks per game. Zaitsev has 88 blocks in 43 games for 2.1 blocks. So again, they're similar players. Russell has just had more opportunity to block shots since Edmonton averages almost 10 penalty minutes per game, Toronto averages just 6.