With a qualifying offer of $4.3 million in Ceci’s back pocket and a potential arbitration date looming later in the summer (the player’s filing deadline is July 5), the Leafs wouldn’t be saving much of anything on the cap with this swap for 2019-20. Therefore, this is likely one piece of a larger puzzle, where the Leafs will either flip him immediately, sign him and try to flip him, or potentially go through the arbitration process and make their decision afterward as to whether to walk away from the award (should Ceci file for arb), availing themselves of Zaitsev’s $4.5 million in cap space without paying a premium to do so.
TOR and OTT appear to have a tentative trade in place that would send Nikita Zaitsev to OTT in exchange for Cody Ceci. There may be another part or parts to it but the deal can’t be finalized until July 1, when TOR pays Zaitsev’s $3M signing bonus.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2019
It may well be there is a sweetener going from TOR to OTT to facilitate Zaitsev for Ceci. It could be a player (Connor Brown?) or it could be a pick. But there will no doubt be some additional piece going from TOR to OTT.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2019
Final word on this tentative transaction: It’s tentative. LOL. Can’t happen until July 1, which in my world means there’s plenty of time where for one reason or another it could go south. But intent is there for TOR and OTT to trade Zaitsev and something for Ceci. Now we wait.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2019
Ceci will likely get around $5 mil in arbitration. If he plays well the Leafs can extend in January. Likely a 5 year ext...again around $5 mil per. Trade has to happen before any of this and there could be other elements involved. https://t.co/yMyE7uzY3M
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 30, 2019
Cody Ceci has already received a qualifying offer, and a team trading for him could not walk away from that if he chose to sign it. It is, however, very rare for a player to simply sign their QO.
— Draglikepull (@draglikepull) June 29, 2019
Are the @MapleLeafs and @Senators up to something 👀 pic.twitter.com/8nkOfGqv25
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 29, 2019
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Yes, Ceci verbally agreed to a one year, $4.5 million contract with the Leafs. Arb case likely would have come in above that and that wouldn’t have worked for Toronto. Good opportunity for Ceci to raise his market value. https://t.co/wgtJP7T7rJ
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2019
Yes, Ceci verbally agreed to a one year, $4.5 million contract with the Leafs. Arb case likely would have come in above that and that wouldn’t have worked for Toronto. Good opportunity for Ceci to raise his market value. https://t.co/wgtJP7T7rJ
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2019