NIKITA ZAITSEV - Defenseman - 27 - $4.5MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2024-2025
LAST UPDATED 9/1/19
Nikita Zaitsev is an interesting case. He initially impressed, flashing offensive talent and defensive ability as a rookie, and his 36 points of production showed flashes of great things to come. Those great things never came, though, and the long-term $4.5MM AAV deal the Leafs rewarded him with seemed like a gamble gone wrong. Zaitsev's defensive awareness evaporated, his offense dried up, and he overall seemed like a liability on both ends of the ice. I think he still has some defensive value thanks to his decent physicality and size, and his ability as a puck mover should help rehabilitate his offensive value. So I don't think he's a lost cause, but the body of work he's presented over the past two seasons makes me struggle to call him a legitimate top-4 defenseman. I have no doubt that the tools he does have, despite all of his flaws, can at least make him a fine bottom-pairing piece for the time being, albeit his hefty salary makes him a definite negative-value asset.
Nikita Zaitsev is an interesting case. He initially impressed, flashing offensive talent and defensive ability as a rookie, and his 36 points of production showed flashes of great things to come. Those great things never came, though, and the long-term $4.5MM AAV deal the Leafs rewarded him with seemed like a gamble gone wrong. Zaitsev's defensive awareness evaporated, his offense dried up, and he overall seemed like a liability on both ends of the ice. I think he still has some defensive value thanks to his decent physicality and size, and his ability as a puck mover should help rehabilitate his offensive value. So I don't think he's a lost cause, but the body of work he's presented over the past two seasons makes me struggle to call him a legitimate top-4 defenseman. I have no doubt that the tools he does have, despite all of his flaws, can at least make him a fine bottom-pairing piece for the time being, albeit his hefty salary makes him a definite negative-value asset.
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