The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, and forwards Connor Brown and Michael Carcone to the Ottawa Senators for defensemen Cody Ceci and Ben Harpur, forward Aaron Luchuk and a 2020 3rd round pick (Columbus Blue Jackets).
Thoughts from the media
Ken Warren: “The Zaitsev-Ceci deal is a good hockey trade for the Senators….it was becomingly increasingly difficult to see how the Senators could bring back Ceci.”
Gus Katsaros: “Connor Brown is going to play up in the Sens lineup next season. He’s going to produce …”
Joshua Clipperton: “Will be interesting to see how Connor Brown fares with Ottawa in what will likely be an expanded offensive role. The Toronto native scored 20 goals in 2016-17.”
Shawn Simpson: “Ceci needed a fresh start. Going to the rival Leafs will either be a great redemption tour, or the negative wrath of two markets should he fail. There won’t be any middle ground, or place to hide.”
James Gordon: “Anyone who follows the Senators with any regularity had to know it would be *Ottawa* giving up the sweetener in the deal because it’s Ottawa.”
Gus Katsaros: “I’d be OK with Ceci playing depth minutes – third pairing (but not with a crazy contract). Shelter, play with offensive players to up those baseline stats, and dump him later. Unsure that’s a likely scenario.”
Sean Tierney: If you’re on TOR’s side, you see:
– Zaitsev for Ceci (easier to move, in theory)
– Brown for Harpur (cheaper depth player at position of need)
– Carcone for Luchuk (wash)
– somehow getting a draft pick
If you’re on OTT’s side, what do you see here to like?
Sean Tierney: “Somehow Dubas got Dorion to throw in a draft pick here and really that’s all you need to know.”
Bill Comeau: “#Leafs With the Zaitsev/Brown trade to Ottawa, Kyle Dubas has what he wants on July 1st: a $15M war chest as Marner offer sheet insurance. No one can squeeze him now, he has all options open. Ceci isn’t signed yet and Harpur is a low cost depth LD.”
#LeafsForever RD Cody Ceci (RFA) and LD Ben Harpur ($725K) traded to the #Leafs from Ottawa. Here are their 2018-19 5v5 rankings. 👀 pic.twitter.com/gHllrcpuzB
— Billius27 (@Billius27) July 1, 2019
After trading Zaitsev, Brown & Carcone (RFA) to Ottawa in exchange for Ceci (RFA Arb), Harpur, Luchuk & a 3rd, the #Leafs now have $11,415,301 in projected cap space, with a roster of 19 (10F/7D/2G)
Two (2) Unsigned RFA’s:
F Mitch Marner
D Cody Cecihttps://t.co/BPt2vFET34 pic.twitter.com/UWS5Qu7wQj— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 1, 2019
Nikita Zaitsev
Connor Brown
Michael Carcone
Cody Ceci
Ben Harpur
Aaron Luchuk