Canucks Reportedly 'Highly Interested' in Leafs' Nikita Zaitsev
By Adam Godfrey
The Vancouver Canucks are a young team on the come up with a bright future ahead of them and even put together a respectable season this year.
Their offense has great potential to be among the NHL's best in the next few years, but their defense could use some reinforcements.
To improve their blue line, they're reportedly looking at a Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman who had a rough season this year but can be a solid addition for the Canucks: Nikita Zaitsev.
Update
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 4, 2019
Source : #Canucks interest is high in Zaitsev but do they have what Toronto would take back. Could a deal happen yes it’s possible but not there yet.
The Canucks are reportedly very interested in the 27-year-old defenseman who has played for the Leafs the past three years. Zaitsev has shown that he can be a reliable defenseman in the NHL and is locked up for another five years.
Although there's no trade in place at the current time, there's a good fit and a mutual need that each team possesses. A deal between the two Canadian organizations could happen as we approach the 2019 NHL Draft.
After a difficult season, TOR and Nikita Zaitsev are working together to find him a fresh start. He is available and we will see where it goes.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 30, 2019
Zaitsev recently requested a trade from the Maple Leafs, and the organization has complied and is working toward finding him a new home for the right price. On a younger team that's still developing, Zaitsev could have a fresh start to his career with a new team with the Canucks.