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# Report: Leafs, Zaitsev Working On Seven-Year Deal
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/report-toronto-maple-leafs-zaitsev-working-on-seven-year-deal-mackenzie-friedman-contract-extension/
- Published: 2017-03-31T00:26:01.000Z
- Updated: 2017-03-31T00:26:01.000Z
- Description: Reports from TSN’s Bob McKenzie and Elliotte Friedman have the Leafs in major negotiations.
- Author: Acting the Fulemin
- Tags: Free Agents and Contracts, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:27

According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, speaking in the intermission of tonight’s Leafs-Predators game, the Leafs are in contract discussions with Leaf right-hand defenceman Nikita Zaitsev...and the term discussed is lengthy. While McKenzie cautioned that the deal was a long ways from final, he reported that the Leafs were talking about locking up Zaitsev for seven years.

Elliotte Friedman subsequently reported an AAV estimated around $4.5M:

> As was reported earlier by [@TSNBobMcKenzie](https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com), Nikita Zaitsev is closing on seven-year extension with TOR. AAV would be $4.5, from what I hear
> 
> — Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) [March 31, 2017](https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/847618330215174144?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Nikita Zaitsev has had impressive moments since coming over from CSKA Moscow this season. While nominally a rookie under NHL rules, Zaitsev is 25 and experienced; he has 34 points in 76 games this year, showing very well as a powerplay quarterback. Zaitsev has frequently partnered with Morgan Rielly on the Leafs’ top pairing.

Some of Zaitsev’s stats are less encouraging. For example, here’s his hero chart:

Granted, that’s against tough competition, but those are less than impressive shot differentials.

On the other hand, Zaitsev rates out quite well by goals above replacement, clocking in as the 41st-best defender in the league. He’s a relatively clean player and he produces (as above) great assist totals. The deal above would signal the Leafs plan on Zaitsev being at least a top-four, and maybe top-pair, defenceman for them for years to come. Here’s hoping Nikita is up to the task.

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For more info on Zaitsev and this rumoured deal, Arvind has written a column on it: “[Context is Key in Examining Rumoured Zaitsev Dea](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/context-is-key-in-examining-rumoured-nikita-zaitsev-deal-extension-toronto-maple-leafs/)l”.