Ottawa needs Gaborik to get to the cap floor. Take out Gaborik and make the trade for a 2020 6th and both teams are happy.

Zaitsev being moved is a no-brainer. I don't think that both Sandin AND Liljegren are ready. Maybe one or the other. I'd suspect Sandin might be more than Liljegren only because of the injuries he's had to recover from in his young career. If the development of guys like Kapanen and Johnsson are anything to go by, neither will get much of a look with the Leafs next season. I suspect that Dermot will stay on the left side and the Leafs will get creative in finding RHD fits. A move that's been discussed here plenty is Nylander to Philly for Laughton, Myers and Sanheim. It saves the Leafs money, gives them a new fresh look on their right side and gives us more grit down the middle. I also think the Leafs will take good hard looks at Josh Manson and Colin Miller. Both or either help solve problems and their contracts are both quite reasonable.

One can only speculate until it actually happens but IMHO, Zaitzev even for a 7th rounder is not something GM's would even consider. There needs to be cap going the other way and the price increased going back to the other team. If I am GM, Zaitzev doesn't make my team significantly better but is still decently expensive and signed long term and knowing that Dubas NEEDS to move out salary, makes the cost to move him out on my part, higher. That's just negotiation 101.

This is just my opinion so who knows maybe Jim Rutherford wants another 4M dman on his blue line and you're fine. I'm only assuming everyone would think the way I do. That's all I can do and under that context, Zaitzev being moved is going to cost the Leafs a pretty penny (for no cap going back the other way).

Frankly who cares? The team's core is pretty much already setup for years to come. Some times you got to bite the bullet to just make sure things work smoothly. Its always best to do it advance as to not squeezed by a cap crunch but if it means you got to pay a 2nd rounder or a prospect to make a problem go away, so be it.

No way Philly says yes to that.

Leafs would worse to have Holl, Liljegren and Sandin in the top six next year. Sure looks like the Leafs need him next year. Not that Zaitsev is bad value at 4.5m it's the term that turns team off in any trade.
If possible the Leafs should bar Zaitsev from going to Russia in the summer. He puts himself through the most gruelling fitness schedule in Russian. I would like to see him working on his hockey skills, which he seems to lost confidence in.

With his goal last night, Alexander has 4 less goals than William has this year. I believe the only ones discussing the Philly trade are Leaf fans.

Vegas offers Miller for Rosen, Bracco and a 2021 3rd??

Can't you only go like 10% over the cap before the season starts, plus contracts can't go on LTIR until then. So if Horton and Gaborik can't go on LTIR until season starts, the Leafs are more then 10% over the cap

You can use LTIR over the offseason, the Leafs did it 2 years ago