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Leafs signed Zaitsev

L K said:
Ryan Whitney is a top scout in the NHL now, right?

https://twitter.com/ryanwhitney6/status/727191870200229892
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We've been burned more often than not with European free agents, but I'm pretty excited about this guy. To be able to pick up a soon-to-be 25 year old top-4 defenceman for nothing would be huge.
 
Nik the Trik said:
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I'm on board.
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I'm not sure what this team needs is another Dmitri Mironov.  He was a nifty puck handler but I'd rather we get a rock like Yushkevich or an agitator like Markov. 
 
This guy is going to play in the World Championships and you can be certain he will be added to the Russian World Cup squad now that he is an NHL'er and this is off the back of two seasons with deep playoff runs.

Might be worthwhile giving him and those in the same boat some extra time off during camp.
 
Ryan Whitney with a few more words on Zaitsev:

?I think he?s going to surprise a lot of people,? Whitney said. ?The physical part of the game will be different for him in the NHL, but the way he moves the puck and skates and how defensive you now have to be to play, it just really makes you think he can be really successful for the Leafs.?

"Just smooth as silk out there, great skater, light on his feet. Not a huge guy, but in today?s NHL you don?t really need to be," Whitney said. "He really kind of controlled the pace of play out there the way he always had his head up and was great at getting the puck out. Guys couldn?t really get a piece of him, for the ones that did hit over there.

"But on the power play he walked the line. He got lots of shots through and really kind of led their team as a young defenceman. I remember thinking, ?Who is this kid? Was he draft eligible or was he drafted?? I remember being really surprised to see that."
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http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/whitney-thinks-new-maple-leaf-nikita-zaitsev-will-surprise-people/

With potentially him, Carrick, Rielly, and Gardiner we are going to have a very, very mobile blueline next season.

Lou also said that everyone in the organization thinks he can play in the top-4.
 
I'm extremely excited for Zaitsev.  Honestly, I don't remember being more excited for a Leafs season than I am for this upcoming year.  All of the things that we disliked about the team in the last few years are pretty much gone.  Sure, the goaltending needs work and we could certainly benefit from a little sandpaper on the blueline but I like the makeup of the blueline with Rielly and Gardiner established and Carrick and Zaitsev coming in.    I think Marincin certain did some nice things last year.  I would like to see the team unload Hunwick in the offseason (not that he has value).

The forward group is exciting.  Everything is just exciting right now.  Good times.
 
L K said:
I'm extremely excited for Zaitsev.  Honestly, I don't remember being more excited for a Leafs season than I am for this upcoming year.  All of the things that we disliked about the team in the last few years are pretty much gone.  Sure, the goaltending needs work and we could certainly benefit from a little sandpaper on the blueline but I like the makeup of the blueline with Rielly and Gardiner established and Carrick and Zaitsev coming in.    I think Marincin certain did some nice things last year.  I would like to see the team unload Hunwick in the offseason (not that he has value).

The forward group is exciting.  Everything is just exciting right now.  Good times.
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That excitement has to translate to high performance on the ice.  As for myself, I'll start to get excited when we're deep into the playoffs, and, looking like a real contender to win it all.

Having said this, however, I really appreciate the direction we're going in with Shanahan and Company.  Things are going well and look very promising so far.  However, there's still plenty of hard work ahead!  ;)
 
I echo your statements LK. It's exciting to pick up a good player like him. And at 24, he's one of the older prospects on the team.

I really can't wait until next season.
 
Honestly think this guy is going to be a real find. Great signing. Going to be a solid defenseman and play a key role on the power play. Can't wait till the season starts.
 
azzurri63 said:
Honestly think this guy is going to be a real find. Great signing. Going to be a solid defenseman and play a key role on the power play. Can't wait till the season starts.
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If he can adjust to the smaller ice, he has all the necessary hockey skills to succeed. 
 
I'm just guessing here, but I imagine it's easier for a defense man to adjust to the smaller rink than a forward (at least in the defensive zone). Any thoughts on that? Break-outs would need adjustment.
 
Bullfrog said:
I'm just guessing here, but I imagine it's easier for a defense man to adjust to the smaller rink than a forward (at least in the defensive zone). Any thoughts on that? Break-outs would need adjustment.
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You'd have to read puck movement a little different, adjust your angles of attack, get comfortable with the increased pace of the game, and such, but it's generally going to be easier to go from the big rink to the small rink than vice versa.
 
bustaheims said:
Bullfrog said:
I'm just guessing here, but I imagine it's easier for a defense man to adjust to the smaller rink than a forward (at least in the defensive zone). Any thoughts on that? Break-outs would need adjustment.
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You'd have to read puck movement a little different, adjust your angles of attack, get comfortable with the increased pace of the game, and such, but it's generally going to be easier to go from the big rink to the small rink than vice versa.
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Unless you're Canadian.  Then going from the small rink to the big rink wins you gold medals.
 
According to many NHL and KHL hockey players, the North American and European hockey games are quite different.

I really hope that Zaitsev can make the change to the smaller ice surfaces, but, nothing is a sure thing.

Let's hope he can become our Sergei Fedorov.  ;)
 
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