The Toronto Maple Leafs should make a proactive play ahead of the NHL's Free-Agency Period.
On July 1st, the Unrestricted Free-Agent Market will open up and defenseman Nikita Zadorov will be the most sought after player.
Not only is Nikita Zadorov 6'6 and 29 years old, but he's coming off a playoff series where he more or less shut-down Connor McDavid.
Every single NHL team is going to try to sing him. The Leafs clearly have interested, so they should get ahead of the game and pay Vancouver a draft pick so that they can negotiate with him ahead of the rest of the league.
Toronto Maple Leafs Should Go Hard After Zadorov
Zadorov is a weird player. He doesn't have great stats, he appears to be in line to be paid like a first pairing superstar when he's statistically close to a 3rd pairing replacement player.
But maybe he just plays hard minutes? Or maybe he's just now putting together all the elements of his game?
He's 6'6 and one of the best in the league at defending the rush. He is also a decent puck mover who can join the rush and contribute offensively.
Could he be a #1? Not for sure, maybe not even likely, but the upside is there. Maybe he's just a giant who is finally utilizing all his skills and his size as a late-bloomer.
Maybe he's a good signing, maybe not, but at 6'6 with a decent two-way game he's a bet worth making. Even if you overpay significantly, the worst that can happen is you have one of the best biggest defenseman in the NHL on your team.
Knowing this could easily turn into a David Clarkson type debacle, I'd still give seven years and $7 million to Zadorov if that's what it takes - but maybe it won't take that much if you don't let him go to market, and so that is why the I think the Leafs should try to get his rights before July 1st.
There are only 3 ways to get a #1 defenseman: draft a Makar/Hughest at the top of the draft, get lucky with a lower pick, or buy/trade for a player with flaws and upside while once again getting lucky.
The Leafs haven't been able to pull off the first two options, but Zadorov is the kind of risky play that could net you the rare dominant number-one defenseman. The fact that he hasn't even been that but will almost certainly be paid like it makes him very risky, but the reward is high.
I say go for it.