Insider reveals how Zadorov's public trade request impacted trade talks; Leafs looking at a larger deal with the Flames?
Over the weekend, Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov made waves when he requested a trade out of Calgary. The situation took an interesting turn for the Leafs when his agent confirmed with TSN's Chris Johnston that Zadorov would be open to a move to Toronto.
TSN's Darren Dreger joined the TSN 1050 "First Up" crew this morning to discuss where things currently stand with Zadorov. While he confirmed the clear interest that the Leafs have in Zadorov, he believes that the public trade request may have actually been more of a detrimental factor in the process than something that will help it along.
"Well look, again, he's an attractive piece for Toronto, Vancouver, I know the New Jersey have expressed some interest, because of what we can see. He's enormous, he's a very physical defenseman. The problem you might have, though - and this is my understanding - is that he thinks he's a top-3, top-2 defenseman and I don't think he is. I think he's comfortable in your second [pairing], well even as your third [pairing], as a #5D, then you're in pretty good shape.
Brad Treliving, the general manager, has been around this man a long time. He knows him well and probably knows how to get him going. I don't think it helped the process, though, to amplify it the way that it amplified on Friday, because now it turns into a spectacle."
Brad Treliving, the general manager, has been around this man a long time. He knows him well and probably knows how to get him going. I don't think it helped the process, though, to amplify it the way that it amplified on Friday, because now it turns into a spectacle."
The Leafs have reportedly expressed an interest in both Zadorov and Chris Tanev, dating back to before the season even began, but we know that the Leafs, as an organization, have also liked Tanev dating back to even before he left Vancouver for Calgary. Now that both may be available, a pair of Insiders in Elliotte Friedman and Darren Dreger believe that the Leafs may even attempt to acquire both. However, if that's the case, as Dreger points out, it may cost the Leafs at least one of their top young pieces.
"You know what? If you're trading for both [Zadorov and Chris Tanev], again, I don't know what salary you need to move out - it's pretty obvious, you just do the math on it - I think it takes one of your kids. I think it's a Minten or a Cowan or something like that. Maybe [Nick Robertson] is a part of it as well.
Nicky Robertson is playing well for the Maple Leafs on that third line, he's got chemistry now with [Max] Domi, but he's been a slow-developing piece, so there's no guarantee that he's going to be a full-time NHL player, but he'd be one that would be in the conversation I would think."
Nicky Robertson is playing well for the Maple Leafs on that third line, he's got chemistry now with [Max] Domi, but he's been a slow-developing piece, so there's no guarantee that he's going to be a full-time NHL player, but he'd be one that would be in the conversation I would think."
Dreger pointed to the upcoming GM meetings on Tuesday as an opportunity where Brad Treliving may have some conversations with other general managers about gauging the market for defensemen.
Personally, I don't think the Leafs are going to move Minten or Cowan after the training camp that both just had, but it wouldn't surprise me if they used Nick Robertson's latest surge as an opportunity to move him while his value is on the rise. The question is, how much would the Leafs have to add to a package that includes both Robertson and their 2024 1st round pick to land both Tanev and Zadorov in the same deal? The obvious subsequent question would be, who do they move out to create the cap space necessary to take on the Tanev and Zadorov contracts?
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 13 | 356 ANSWERS Insider reveals how Zadorov's public trade request impacted trade talks; Leafs looking at a larger deal with the Flames? If the Leafs and Flames strike a deal, will it be for Zadorov, Tanev or both? | ||
| Zadorov | 137 | 38.5 % |
| Tanev | 19 | 5.3 % |
| Both | 137 | 38.5 % |
| A multi-player deal with different pieces | 63 | 17.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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