It took a few days, but the Maple Leafs and Senators completed the much expected deal sending Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown and Michael Carcone to Ottawa in exchange for Cody Ceci, Ben Harpur, Aaron Luchuk and Columbus’ third-round selection in the 2020 draft.
Zaitsev was not happy in Toronto and expressed a desire to leave the organization in May, confirmed by general manager Kyle Dubas. The Russian defenseman notched 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 81 games last season. Over the course of three years with Toronto, he had 63 points in 223 games; however, in the postseason he posted a glaring minus-10 in 18 playoff games.
Brown had 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists), including three shorthanded points, in 82 games in 2018-19.
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“We’re bringing in two highly competitive players that we like as long-term fits for our team. Both are the type of true professionals who match with the culture we want to put in place here in Ottawa,” said general manager Pierre Dorion in the Senators press release announcing the trade. “Nikita is a physical right-shot defenceman who defends hard, fills lanes and blocks shots. Connor has scored 20 goals in the league and is excellent on the forecheck and the penalty kill. We feel both players will add to our depth and fit well within the structure we want our team to play.”
The move was a shrewd one for Dubas, as there was rumblings that trading Zaitsev would be difficiult considering he still has five years and $22.5 million remaining on his deal. After paying Zaitsev his $3 million bonus on July 1 — which is the speculation as to why the trade was not announced until Monday — the Leafs now have $11.4 million in cap space. Harpur has a cap hit of $725,000 cap hit and Luchuk $759,166.
Aside from having to still sign restricted free agent Mitch Marner, the deal with Ottawa sent fellow RFA Ceci to Toronto. Ceci, an Ottawa native who posted seven goals, 19 assists and a plus/minus of minus-22 in 74 games, is expected to sign with the Maple Leafs.