Your end of the work week Leafs news and links, starting with the big item of the day: 24-year-old Russian defenceman Nikita Zaitsev has all but signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Leafs.
Hearing Russian free-agent D Nikita Zaitsev is telling teams his intention is to sign with TOR next season. Would be a one-year ELC.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 22, 2016
Nikita Zaitsev: Part of the new Maple Leaf Russian 5? Part VIhttps://t.co/OPQMDKC1QA
via @quinnesqhttps://t.co/IS1jUjbVHP— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) January 22, 2016
ICYMI: Leafs' Rielly and his future thoughts: https://t.co/7bt4ckjJQ4
— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) January 22, 2016
Story: Secrets to Reimer's success. Plus, Shawn Matthias' year-long confidence game in Five Points. https://t.co/cqZDtPgLbB
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) January 22, 2016
You should all go here and read this brilliant article by @VintageLeaf about Dave Keon: https://t.co/AJuEwRTF6d
— birky (@b1rky) January 22, 2016
Panthers spark trade chatter with Brandon Pirri scratch https://t.co/QFsAJBf5qk pic.twitter.com/JB6BP8AtPf
— theScore NHL (@theScoreNHL) January 22, 2016
Brad Boyes on reaching 800 NHL games. #TMLtalk
WATCH: https://t.co/rmccaSzhiJ pic.twitter.com/g1IGG6XYgO
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 22, 2016
A delay-of-game penalty called on Leafs' Dion Phaneuf is today's question in C'Mon Ref. https://t.co/kogunE0BMQ pic.twitter.com/OexSbwJo6p
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) January 22, 2016
Story: How the Carolina Hurricanes have become a great possession team, despite three rookies on D and tiny payroll https://t.co/XhqlLvOQTg
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) January 22, 2016
The Maple Leafs will need to win ugly until any bright future arrives. @reporterchris https://t.co/gk5xhvh3FZ pic.twitter.com/Efn16m8O9w
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 22, 2016
Keon turned his back on Leaf management, but fans never forgot him: https://t.co/KZz3V1rhgE
— Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) January 22, 2016
Game #45 Review: Carolina Hurricanes 1 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 0 (OT): A meeting between Mike … https://t.co/BnG5Tj8sHa #Leafs #TMLTalk
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) January 22, 2016
#NHL players with the biggest changes in possession stats compared to last season https://t.co/U2F6YjisNS pic.twitter.com/Otp1XweCSx
— Scott Cullen (@tsnscottcullen) January 22, 2016
