His QO was 4.3, if he files and is awarded anything more the leafs can simply walk away and spend the money elsewhere.
- justmike

My mistake, Bob McKenzie said Ceci likely to accept the QO, so his cap hit will be almost the same as Zaitsev. The the cap savings you get is the difference between Harpur and brown.

My mistake, Bob McKenzie said Ceci likely to accept the QO, so his cap hit will be almost the same as Zaitsev. The the cap savings you get is the difference between Harpur and brown.
- sensarmy_11

The cap saving between the two is marginal but even if Ceci is on the leafs next year it is one year and he is a FA, Z has 5 more years at 4.5, that is where the value is for Toronto.

Apparently Zaistev had to waive his no trade to Ottawa clause to make this happen.

Two trades in a row leafs add HUGE sweetener to move a bad contract. Not dubas fault.

Two trades in a row leafs add HUGE sweetener to move a bad contract. Not dubas fault.
- oil90

I wouldn’t call the sweetener in this deal huge....even in Ottawa, Brown is only a 3rd or 4th line player. They did take Harpur away from us, which helps. The coach not having Ceci or Harpur on the bench instantly makes our D much better

WHOOPEE......did this trade to clear some cap space....should have thought this out earlier....helps the cap space but doesn't help the team especially the defense....they are just running around in circles and not getting better.....I don't see any win mow help here and now they are talking about bringing Spezza......a sarcastic WHOOOPEEEE

Two trades in a row leafs add HUGE sweetener to move a bad contract. Not dubas fault.
- oil90

What's the HUGE sweetener?

Two trades in a row leafs add HUGE sweetener to move a bad contract. Not dubas fault.
- oil90

Don't worry, we still blamed Gillis for 5 years after.

Not sure what people were expecting. No one was going to give anything for Zaitsev.

Brown is 3rd/4th liner, who I think was actually getting worse. Yes, I agree he was on the 4th line, and more then likely would have produced more on the top lines. But he was out played for those spots. Johnsson, Kapanen, and Hyman out played him. Hyman has had success with both Tavares and Matthews. When given the chance, Brown simply hasn't had the same success.

In Ceci, if he goes to Arbitration the leafs could walk away. If he accepts his qualifying offer, he only has 1 year, and is easier to move then Zaitsev with 5 years. I don't think Ceci takes a shift with the leafs.

If they let Ceci walk the it’s probably a draw since they get the cap space. If they done......yikes

Harpur is awful, there is no way to sugar coat it. He can fight, it’s pretty much the only positive thing I can say about him
- sensarmy_11

Wait until you watch Z

Just know you have a bottom pairing D at 4.5 million for 5 years.

This is the same garbage we heard with Phaneuf.

Wait until you watch Z

Just know you have a bottom pairing D at 4.5 million for 5 years.

This is the same garbage we heard with Phaneuf.
- Santo_44

Phaneuf helped propel the Sens to game 7 of east finals.

Oh yes, we also lost Harpur. Good news, very good news

Phaneuf helped propel the Sens to game 7 of east finals.
- spazzbot

This is true to some extent

OTT gets

D Nikita Zaitsev
F Connor Brown
F Michael Carcone



TOR gets

D Cody Ceci
D Ben Harpur
F Aaron Luchuk
3rd round pick 2020
- HockeyBuzz

what a terrible trade for the leafs. did they really have to throw brown out with the bath water? dubas sucks.

Ceci has already verbally agreed to something like 4.3. Would have liked to see him go to arb and the leafs walk away.

Great trade for both

Ceci has already verbally agreed to something like 4.3. Would have liked to see him go to arb and the leafs walk away.
- Trevrrrgavo

Good people on both sides

As far as I can tell Zaitsev and Ceci are pretty much a wash...I'm biased, but I'd give the Leafs a slight edge there if only due to their ability to walk away from Ceci and his cap hit after 1 year if he continues to be bad, whereas the Sens are stuck with Zaitsev and his cap hit for an additional 4 years, even if he can't turn things around.

I'd probably consider both about equally likely/unlikely to turn things around, so the option to bail out much earlier is a good one.

Luchuk/Carcone are a wash...maybe they make it...probably they don't, but each are equally likely to be either.

That leaves Brown for Harpur and a 3rd. Is Brown better than Harpur? Yes. Is Brown any kind of game changer or a reason for winning rather than losing a game? No. So a 3rd and Harpur doesn't seem like a big problem to me. Especially considering that the Leafs simply cannot afford a $2.1M fourth line winger.

I don't think either side made out like bandits or anything on this one....just a shifting of each teams problems.