Quoting: nhlproduction
Not a single person would trade kasperi kapanen for steve santini. yes he's only 24 but he couldn't even stick on New Jersey's blueline, why would we give up a 22 year old scoring top 6 winger for THAT? I'd rather dump Zaitsev for whatever and then trade Kapanen for a top 4 D
toronto has enough mid-to-lower level d men, the problem is the top pair. rosen will play full time, holl will get a shot, we have borgman who can fill in a number 6 role while dermott is out, and we also have Sandin and Liljegren who may get looks now that there's another open spot. Toronto's D depth has never been their issue
Lets go through this line by line:
No SS alone is not worth KK, but honestly no one has ever said that.
Eating NZ contract is the reason why KK is made available. Before you start telling me he's a great defender, realize your own fans think he sucks "Zaitsev for a 6th"
Here's whats left on NZ- Zaitsev, Nikita, 27
2019-20 $4,500,000
2020-21 $4,500,000
2021-22 $4,500,000
2022-23 $4,500,000
2023-24 $4,500,000
I honestly think he's just a little overpaid and 1 yr too long, but that's just me.
Your not getting a top 4 D man for KK. First, bc the league GMs know your somewhat in a bind and second bc he's not worth that currently.
How much success are you going to have with Rosen and Holl as your bottom pair? Sure they are fine players but your answer to being better after this year cannot be that. Gard/Hainsey/Dermott couldn't do it this year, your D will be worse.
Personally I would add another defender (yes bottom pairing if you want to call it that) to the KK trade. Muellers rights as a RFA. As a Tor fan I would try and move PM instead of NZ, Zait has value and Babcock seems to like him. PM seems to be done. Send him back to SJS. Shero eats half his contract so Sharks agree to take him back. Keep your prospect D men with the Marlies and let them grow, as you said you have depth there, don't exploit it bc of a cap crunch. Sure you will disagree but that's ok.