Nikita Zaitsev, a scoring defenceman being pursued by many NHL teams as he eyes North America, is heavily leaning towards the Leafs says a tweet from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Zaitsev was courted in the summer by Toronto president Brendan Shanahan and has had favourable tweets of his own about how he was treated by the club. A one-year entry-level contract for the 24-year-old is possible.
The 24-year-old blue-liner has been of interest to more than a few NHL clubs, with the Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles among team reported to have been interested in acquiring his services.
Zaitsev has 68 points in 130 games so far for CSKA Moscow.
@A_Kalnins not exactly a secret but here it is...
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) April 13, 2016
Hearing Russian free-agent D Nikita Zaitsev is telling teams his intention is to sign with TOR next season. Would be a one-year ELC.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 22, 2016
Nikita Zaitsev to Sportizen.ru: ‘I can’t sign anything now but I visited #Leafs and was pleasantly shocked by the reception’ #CSKA #KHL 1/4
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) June 22, 2015
More Zaitsev: ‘I visited #Leafs office and the arena, locker-room, talked to GM and the head coach and was very impressed’ 2/4
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) June 22, 2015
More Zaitsev: ‘#Leafs were the only team that had a real big interest in me. I did some tests during the visit’ 3/4
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) June 22, 2015
More Zaitsev: ‘I want to leave the #KHL as a winner and I’ll spend the year in Russia to be absolutely prepared for the #NHL’ #Leafs 4/4
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) June 22, 2015
Age: 24
Shoots: Right
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 196 pounds
Team: CSKA Moscow