Nikita Zaitsev will look to prove he belongs in the NHL
The signing of Zaitsev was the worst kept secret in hockey after the Russian defenseman made it clear he would sign with the Maple Leafs once his contract with CSKA Moscow expired.
After his final season with the Red Army in which he put eight goals and 18 assists in 46 games, he would then sign a one-year entry level contract with the Maple Leafs.
Now, what can Maple Leafs fan expect from him?
I guess this Nikita Zaitsev will be a really nice addition to the @MapleLeafs blue line. Quite smart player with also decent offensive tools
— Thomas Roost (@thomasroost) May 22, 2016
He’s a smooth skater with puck moving ability and a right-handed shot that can be a compliment to someone like Rielly if Babcock chooses to pair the two together. Add that he has a shot from the point and fans can start salivating of the thought of him ripping one-timers from the point on the powerplay.
Furthermore, former NHLer Ryan Whitney gave a glowing scouting report for Zaitsev and what the fans in Toronto can expect. Whitney stated how Zaitsev can control the tempo of the game while on the ice and even though he’s not the biggest of defenseman he has a way of eluding those that are trying to hit him, overall he expects him to turn heads once he gets out on the ice.
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