Nikita Zaitsev signed a one-year entry-level contract with a cap hit of $925,000 on 2 May 2016 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The highly touted defenseman has registered three goals and 29 points since his NHL debut on 12 October 2016.
His offensive upside was one of the bigger factors for teams wanting to acquire him. Now, he hasn’t produced what many thought he would as far point production goes. But, he has exceeded my expectations.
Zaitsev’s playing pretty good hockey for an NHL rookie. A rookie that’s seen parts of seven KHL seasons but, who’s counting?