Zaitsev for Gourde is an interesting idea

That's probably my least favorite of the trades for Ottawa. Cause Gourde has 5 years and Zaitsev only has 4. Value wise though I think it's pretty close.

It has an extra year but in all the other trades you're taking twice Zaitsev's cap hit

Then Zaitsev becomes elite

meh Gourde is still pretty good imo but he gets a lot of crap for having too much term. Zaitsev is pure poop

Ottawa has the cap space though. Basically take advantage of the cap crunch most teams are facing in the next couple years to get rid of Zaitsev's contract. We won't be competing in the next 2 years anyways.

He's badly overpaid. Based on his production he should be making 2.5M-3M. Plus he has a NTC which is the dagger.

Zaitsev is a worse jack Johnson so no thanks to that giveaway machine that's even more expensive than johnson.

You honestly think he's worse than JJ who cost you several games single handedly this season and is the reason you guys aren't in the playoffs?

Do you even watch hockey?

and has one more year left after Johnson's contract is up

penguins will bury JJ in the AHL and then buy him out the following year. No way they take that bad trade.

Says a leafs fan. All he does is hit a lot and block shots. Johnson does that too without giving away the puck more than 40 times a year. Zaitsev averages nearly 80 giveaways a years that's double. And he costs more than one million more than johnson and has an extra year too

Johnson doesn't even get the puck so he can't give it away.

Same with zaitsev but he manages double the giveaways buddy.

I wouldn't mind Gourde I guess, he's not a terrible player, he's just signed for too much for Tampa with a NTC. I honestly don't think we need to trade Zaitsev yet though, all we really need on defense is a filler guy, and he can fill that role for at least a couple years while we're not trying to be good. I don't think enough raises from ELCs will happen before his contract expires to be an issue. This year's prospects (if they take one year to develop which Byfield and Drysdale might need) will have their ELCs expire with Zaitsev's deal. Thomson and JBD probably need another year to develop as well, meaning their ELCs expire then also (unless we lose a year, I'm not 100% on how that works, all I know is sometimes prospects that take a few years only have 2 years of playing time on their ELCs) but yeah, I don't think Zaitsev's deal is a real problem. I wouldn't mind taking any of those contracts to reach the floor and acquire assets though

I'd probably do this for NYI. We can move Mayfield for a winger.

I really like that Vancouver one.

I think both teams win those trades. Only problem is Melnyk is a cheapo

Islanders say yes shake everyones hand in your organization and run.