This is a bad idea all around

Why trade for Kuznetsov, when you can sign O’Reilly for less and keep the pick and Niemela? O’Reilly has had as good if not better stats over the last 9 years.

Toronto shouldn't trade Brodie, considering how great he's been for them the last couple years. Especially with a 1st attached. Calgary also can't afford to take on the difference between Brodie's and Zadorov's cap hits, really don't need Brodie with their current top 4, and are in much more need of a player like Zadorov with the likely loss of both Lucic and Lewis this offseason

That's a bad trade for the giving up first to acquire Zadorov. Forget about Kutzerchov, keep Tavares and centre, and signing Bunting at LWer then you keep Niemela and the first.
Liljegren shouldn't be traded.

Kuzy has a huge cap hit, off-ice issues and is declining. I doubt he’s a player the Leafs bring into the fold.

The Brodie trade is really confusing since Brodie is a much better dman than Zadorov. Z is not worth Brodie or a 1st round pick on their own.

The Leafs also have only 6 NHL Dmen signed. One of them is 39 year old, soon to be 40 Giordano. They also have spent years trying to add young RHD so I’m not sure why people are giving away Lily and Timmins like they have no value.

O’Reilly isn’t coming back to the leafs FWIW. And no, Kuznetsov has been better than O’Reilly a majority of their concurrent seasons in the NHL.

Kuznetsov does not have “off ice issues.” You’re referring to something that happened 5 years ago and has never been an issue since.

Evidence suggest otherwise. He makes Bunting look like an angel. Sorry, why would anyone give up anything for a 31 year-old making $7,800,000 each of the next 2 years? A player with only 12 goals and a minus 26. 7.8 million buys you much better on the open market.

2022-23 Washington Capitals NHL 81GP 12G 43A 55PTS -26

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/08/23/evgeny-kuznetsov-suspended-four-years-by-iihf-testing-positive-cocaine/

https://nationalpost.com/news/world/ice-hockey-russias-kuznetsov-gets-four-year-iihf-ban-after-cocaine-test

https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2021/05/03/evgeny-kuznetsov-and-ilya-samsonov-will-not-play-tonight-due-to-disciplinary-reasons/

The Washington Capitals face a tough decision with regard to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is reportedly disengaged with the organization.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/takes/washington-capitals-evgeny-kuznetsov-solutions-trade-disappointment

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/evgeny-kuznetsov-suspended-one-game-for-high-sticking

I agree that TOR shouldn't trade Brodie. However the Flames don't need to keep Z. He's not a fighter, so Lucic being gone doesn't impact that. The hits and goals are nice, but the defensive gaffs combined with his caphit make him expendable.

It's less about the fighting and more the physical presence. Lewis wasn't really a fighter but he was great for being a physical presence. Also Zadorov's defensive gaffs were no more noticeable than Weegars. Z has grown into a very solid defensive dman and the numbers 100% agree


I view Zadorov as Calgary's version of Brayden McNabb.

delete

That's where the eye test disagrees. You can see the centers and his D partners covering more for him in the defensive zone. He was also absolutely terrible at defending odd-man rushes this year. I'm willing to bet that all his 'flaws' become more evident again without a coach like Sutter. I agree that we had more offense with him on the ice, but it often seemed like a roller-coaster.

You are welcome to your own opinion here and that's fine but I think Zadorov is very solid as a #5

I agree he's a fine #5 D. He's paid like a #4 D, and the Flames are in a cap crunch. That's why I expect him and Vladar to be the most likely cap casualties. He is a great human, and he's entertaining, and he said that he wants to stay in CGY, so I get why fans want to keep him. It's just easy to forget all the times he's not moving his feet, or has lazy plays while actually defending.

Here's an example:
@5:26 defending a 2 on 1 how he usually does.
@1:05 standing still resulting in an uncovered person upfront in case of a rebound.
@2:45 slow to get back to the D zone after his hit, doesn't pick anyone up or move his feet to get back.


You can say it's a bad game, and that he's not to blame because they were broken plays, but I prefer players that look like they have a higher GAF meter on the ice.

Brodie is a #3/4 D in comparison.

While yes he does have his gaffs, you are also neglecting how in all those examples it was it was results from other teammates that put him in those situations, in fact all 3 were giveaways, 2 of which were brutal ones that should never happen. I think you are being extremely nitpicky here.

Also I think you may have completely forgotten or never watched Brodie as a player in Calgary. defensive gaffs like that were extremely common with him.

You can pull every article you want but saying he has off ice issues is plain wrong lmao. Did he have a down season? Yes. Look beyond 22-23, which is conveniently the only season stat line you posted.

I am being nitpicky, but I just chose a random game though. I didn't re-watch the whole game, just the highlights. This game would've been the difference between making the playoffs and missing them.

Regarding Brodie, lol, I love the subtle insinuation... of course I remember his gaffs, but I also remember the puck always being on his stick, much like Gaudreau. He was/is a much better passer than Z, so I always treated his gaffs as a net positive.

Again I am not disagreeing that Brodie is the better player. But Zadorov provides an element that we are loosing a lot of this summer, overall pretty solid play, and wants to be a Flame. I want him to sign an extension this summer, I think he will too. I think he is also willing to take a paycut to stay in Calgary long term if it includes job security. I don't see him as one of the pieces Calgary would move unless we decide to blow it up. I think Tanev and Hanifin are much more likely to be traded instead

Ignore his past. Ignore last year. Ignore he wants a trade…how ‘bout no thanks.

That’s fine. But suggesting he’s a zero/low value asset is wrong.

At 7.8 it will be tough to get anything for him. Nashville has a couple players making 8 that nobody wants.

Kuznetsov is better than Johansen.

He wasn’t better than anyone last year. He was uninterested in playing defence and terrible overall. He also asked for a trade.

That’s weird because I watched him all year and that wasn’t the case. But okay.

Okay…

“ Most Inefficient Contracts in 2022-23”

“Kuznetsov scored just 55 points and was one of the worst defensive forwards in the NHL analytically, which was a big problem considering his large $7.8 million AAV.”

https://theathletic.com/4572670/2023/06/02/nhl-worst-value-contracts-2022-2023/

“According to El-Bashir, the Capitals' decision-makers were unhappy with Kuznetsov's performance this season. He cited the center's inability to step up his game when injuries sidelined some key players as well as his poor defensive play.”

https://thehockeynews.com/news/speculation-brewing-over-evgeny-kuznetsovs-future-in-washington

“Evgeny Kuznetsov had a difficult 2022-23 season that saw him play two more games than he did during 2021-22 but record 23 fewer points...He did not come through on those expectations and Kuznetsov now will enter another summer full of question marks.“

https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2023/04/15/evgeny-kuznetsov-gives-no-comment-when-asked-to-evaluate-his-performance-this-season/