It certainly looks like Canada Day will start with the most unlikely of fireworks.
Yesterday evening, we learned that the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs are talking deal.
And by all accounts, that trade will likely become official at some point tomorrow.
On the surface, the trade seems like a strange one. Doesn’t appear to make a whole lot of sense. Look a little deeper though and you’ll see that it makes perfect SENSe.
As ugly as Nikita Zaitsev’s contract is (quite ugly by the way), it basically perfectly suited to Ottawa’s unique and unfortunate circumstance.
There are certain things Ottawa is looking for in their current situation and Zaitsev appears to check every box.
First, cost-certainty. Rather than continue down the unpredictable path of negotiating with Cody Ceci, they get a similar player to a predictable number. One that is almost certainly less than what Ceci is going to get.
Second, after July 1st, Zaitsev’s deal is bonus-free for the next three years. He’ll make just $1.5M this season in Ottawa (as much as $4M less than they’d have to pay Ceci) and there are no bonuses in his contract over the next two seasons.
Seriously, look at this thing. He was destined to be an Ottawa Senator.
What makes Zaitsev more attractive than just signing a UFA this summer is that $4.5M cap hit. They only have to pay him $1.5 in actual dollars this year but he ensures that they stay in the neighbourhood of the cap floor this season.
It also helps that new Head Coach DJ Smith has some familiarity with the player and obviously the Coach feels like he can be useful player in Ottawa.
The fact that the Leafs are also willing to throw something into the deal (Connor Brown or a pick) makes it that much more enticing from Ottawa’s perspective.
The extra years on Zaitsev’s deal are a little off-putting I’m sure but the Senators never miss an opportunity to kick the can down the road financially.
Like the rest of you, I long for a day when we can evaluate a trade based on the quality of the return alone but Ottawa’s current situation requires that financial lens.
And from that perspective, this deal probably feels like a no-brainer for Pierre Dorion. Especially with no real trade market for Cody Ceci.
His Owner gets cost-certainty over the next few years and especially next season, his Head Coach gets a player he likes and the organization gets an additional asset towards the team’s rebuild.
Plus, I get to write the best headline of all-time.
It’s a win-win-win-win.
Also, Cody Ceci might actually play for the Toronto Maple Leafs now. And they might actually sign him to a big ol’ extension.
