BUFFALO—Defenceman Nikita Zaitsev has asked to be traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs while talks with Mitch Marner’s camp continue at a better pace than they did a year ago with William Nylander, Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said Thursday. Zaitsev’s agent, Dan Milstein, told the Star he was not commenting on word that Zaitsev wanted to play elsewhere for personal reasons. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOWIf Zaitsev departs, it would add $4.5 million of cap space to the $8.8 million the Leafs already have. The Leafs are hoping to come in at a smaller number, closer to $9.5 million for their leading scorer. “We have had a lot more discussion with Darren (Ferris, Marner’s agent) already than we had with Lewis Gross (Nylander’s agent),” Dubas said.

Source: thestar May 30, 2019 22:41 UTC