Canucks and Oilers showing interest in Maple Leafs defenseman Zaitsev
Darren Dreger: Trade talks will be heating up leading up to the draft next Friday.
Have already mentioned the Vancouver Canucks interest in Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, and it’s sounding the Edmonton Oilers have some interest in him as well.
Rick Dhaliwal: Source is saying the Canucks haven’t made a trade offer to the Maple Leafs for Zaitsev yet. Talks will heat up at the draft.
The Maple Leafs are looking for a defenseman back.
The Oilers are showing some interest as well. They haven’t made an offer yet either.
@Prospects_Watch: Darren Dreger said on TSN 1050 that the Oilers are interested in Nikita Zaitsev. Before Zaitsev signed with Toronto, Ken Holland was the GM of the Detroit Red Wings and they were interested in signing him.
Jason Gregor: “Why would Edm take Zaitsev with 5 years remaining in his deal ($4.5m) unless TOR is adding in a lot. Last two years he had only 12 and 13 pts on a team who had 2nd most GF in NHL. And he isn’t elite shutdown guy.”
Two free targets for the Canucks
Rick Dhaliwal: Have been hearing that the Vancouver Canucks will go after pending free agent defensemen Tyler Myers and Jake Gardiner. There will be numerous teams that are interested in both players, and they also share the same agent, JP Barry.
Leafs and Gardiner
Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Pierre LeBrun was on TSN 1050 on pending free agent defenseman Jake Gardiner and if he’ll be able to re-sign with the Maple Leafs.
“Pat Brisson spoke briefly with Kyle Dubas at the Draft Combine in Buffalo. The Leafs are keeping that door open, but this — and it’s a big but — they really can’t go there until they figure out Mitch Marner. That’s the reality of it. Because of that, I think it’s almost inevitable that Pat Brisson will end up hearing from teams as of June 23rd when the UFA speaking period opens.
I know from talking to other teams that they can’t wait for him to get to June 23rd. He is going to have a lot of teams on his doorstep. You just don’t have top-four defensemen go to market that often. Erik Karlsson is a story on his own, but Tyler Myers, Jake Gardiner, and to some degree Anton Stralman will get lots of attention.”
LeBrun on Nikita Zaitsev’s situation.
“Darren Dreger reported the other day that the Vancouver Canucks have shown a bit of interest, which is interesting. I don’t think it is a front-burner issue for them, but the way that Dregs framed it is that he’s on a list of players that the Canucks have written down and want to keep an eye on.”