Seventh heaven for Leafs, Zaitsev
Defenceman’s deal should make him an integral part of Toronto’s blue line through 2023-24 season
With the Maple Leafs signing Nikita Zaitsev to a long-term deal, GM Lou Lamoriello acknowledged this is only the beginning of the work he has in reconstructing the blue line this off-season. But it’s an important start. The Russian defenceman inked a sevenyear, $31.5-million contract extension. The hit to the team’s salary cap is $4.5 million in each season through 2023-24, a length of time that Lamoriello seems comfortable with given Zaitsev’s age (25) and his impressive rookie season.
“We felt having him here this year, and watching him the last couple of years, everything we thought about him was what we saw,” Lamoriello said. “The way he plays, the style he plays, the way he takes care of himself, we felt this was a good decision.
“It’s a fair contract that is also capfriendly.”
In terms of average annual salary, Zaitsev becomes the third highest paid Leaf, tied with Nazem Kadri behind goalie Frederik Andersen and defenceman Morgan Rielly ($5 million each).
“It’s been a huge honour to be a part of this team and I can’t wait until the beginning of next season,” Zaitsev said in a statement translated from Russian.
His deal comes with a limited no-trade clause, that starts when he’s 27, in which he can give a list each July of 10 teams he would accept a trade to. Some of the money — $13 million — is also protected as signing bonus money, meaning it is likely he won’t bought out.
Zaitsev had signed a one-year deal as a free agent from the KHL last year that paid him a base of $925,000. He added $637,000 in performance bonuses and could make another $212,500 if he is named to the end-of-season all-rookie team.
He skated in all 82 regular-season games with the Leafs, finishing with four goals and 36 points. The point total was second on the Toronto defence.
“He’s in the elite category as far as how he’s used and how he’s trusted,” Lamoriello said. “Experience is going to help him. Knowing the league better. He came in completely cold.”
The Leafs also signed forward Ben Smith to a one-year extension worth $650,000. Lamoriello acknowledged that the expansion draft played a role in signing Smith. It’s likely the Leafs will expose Smith and Eric Fehr as the forwards in the draft. Every team much expose two forwards who played 40 games this year or 70 over the last two. Both qualify.
“Smith is a big asset to the organization, but it’s not a hidden secret that he’s also eligible for the expansion draft,” Lamoriello said. “There was a combination of reasons for this.”
But defence is the spot where the Leafs remain iffy. Lamoriello sounded happy with Zaitsev, Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner. And he sounded like he was looking to upgrade if he could on the others.
“There will be a focus on defence,” Lamoriello said. “We have three guys
“We have three (defencemen) under contract that bring a certain dimension . . . We have to add to that group.” LOU LAMORIELLO
under contract that bring a certain dimension. We have younger players. We have free agents we have to make decisions on. We have to add to that group.
“Also, we have one or two players in the minors we’re going to take a real good look at.”
That’s good news for the likes of Travis Dermott, Rinat Valiev and Andrew Nielsen, the top defensive prospects with the Marlies. It’s also a sign the Leafs will continue to build from within rather than look for quick fixes from elsewhere.
“This year was a platform year for the organization for the direction it’s in and what the commitment from ownership for success,” said Lamoriello. “We’re not going to make decisions to simply add. They have to be people who can come in and help.”