For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter The Toronto Maple Leafs defense was expected to have a new look next season with the likely departures of veteran Ron Hainsey and Jake Gardiner, but you can now add Nikita Zaitsev to that list. The 27-year-old blueliner informed Leafs management that he is requesting a trade for personal reasons after three seasons with Toronto and GM Kyle Dubas indicated that he met with Zaitsev’s agent Daniel Milstein at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo on Thursday and that he will endeavor to facilitate a trade. “I’ve met with Dan here and I don’t want to get too much into the details, that is up to Dan and Nikita on their end, but that will be our goal to try to find a fresh start for him for his own personal and private reasons.… Dubas said. “In the case of what it means for our team, it’s not any definitive type of ‘he’s definitely not going to be back’, because especially as the year went on (and) paired with (Jake) Muzzin, his value began to shine through a little bit more.…
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