Technically Leafs 4 highest paid players are 3 forwards and 1 defenseman.
Looking at the Vegas salary structure for comparison they have 3 core players in Eichel, Stone, and Pietrangelo.
Then they have 6 players in the 5 to 6 million range who are quite good in Karlsson, Theodore, Marchessault, Lehner, Martinez, and Smith. This is followed by 6 players in 2 to 3 million range in Roy, Stephenson, McNabb, Barbashev, Whitecloud, and Hague who are also good players. That is 15 good to very good to elite players.
Leafs for comparisoin has the core 5 as we know making all the money. Then we have Murray at over 6 mill and 2 players in the 5 mill range in Muzzin and Brodie. Followed by McCabe at 4 mill and Kerfoot at 3.5 mill. The only other players making over 2 mill are Jarnkrok and Holl. There's also O'Reilly at 7.5 mill though.
Vegas has been a cup contender right from the get go and this year the team just looks like they have everything. Elite skill, size, speed, grit, hitters, and depth. They should be the model for building a team.