I am a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
I attack no one.
I like to deal in facts, rational thought, logic.
Pietrangelo is correct.
That's an easy one to stumble on, I often forget the 'i'.
I point out errors.
It's often 1 particular poster who likes to think he's smarter than anyone else on the board, though he has cronies.
That sort of individual deserves to be brought down a peg or two.
The same individual often posts ludicrous ideas, random rumours, with no substantiation.
When anyone questions him (I'm assuming it's a him), no answer comes,
ever.
There's radio silence when he's called out on his bullshit.
What would I like to see the Maple Leafs do that is realistic?
Excellent question.
My answer will be a combination of what I'd like them to do, and what I think they'll do.
I suspect Frederik Andersen has played his last game as a Maple Leaf.
The goaltender market will be soft this offseason.
Toronto will be looking for someone to share (50/50?) the net with Jack Campbell.
If the Leafs can move FA31, they'll likely spend $2.5~$3Mm on another goaltender.
FA31 has a cap hit of $5Mm, but actual cash remaining of only $1Mm.
For a team looking to make the cap floor, he would be an attractive target.
FA31 is a good to very good goaltender, but not elite.
He does have a partial NTC, he can block a move to 10 teams.
If my guess is correct regarding FA31 being moved, that's $2~2.5Mm more cap space.
Sandpaper up front.
An easy, simple answer is resign Kyle Clifford.
If he's agreeable to a 1 or 2 year deal, at or below $1Mm a.a.v., I'm fine with that.
He's capable of playing in today's NHL, quick enough to keep up.
Certainly tough enough to protect himself and any teammate that needs it.
Can contribute an occasional goal as well.
Failing KC73's return, the club will look at another similar grit guy at similar $$$'s.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defence.
Ah, the $64 question, well, okay, these days, the significantly more than $64 question.
What is the Maple Leafs defence as of today for the 2020-21season, or whenever it starts....?
Morgan Rielly (2) $5Mm a.a.v.
Jake Muzzin (4) $5.625Mm a.a.v.
Justin Holl (3) $2Mm a.a.v.
Rasmus Sandin (2) $894,167K a.a.v.
Travis Dermott (RFA) GMKD will sign him, 1 year $1,471,467.
If he gets an attractive RFA offer from another club, take the draft picks.
That's 5 defencemen.
Martin Marincin (1) $700K & Calle Rosen (1) $750K are both under contract.
MM52 in particular gets slagged for his abilities, skill level.
He's not particularly skilled (I mean, as far as your average NHL defenceman) but he's capable of being a 7-8 defenceman.
Calle Rosen, has 20 NHL games on his resume. He's Marlies~bound barring lots of injuries.
Both contracts are easily buried.
Is Timothy Liljegren ready for a 5-6 defenceman spot?
If so, $863,333 a.a.v.
Now, is there a way to find enough $$ for Mrs. Pietrangelo's (not so) little boy.
Yes.
Toronto has 7 slots to fill on their 23 man roster
As of this writing, the Toronto Maple Leafs have $7,791,467 available to spend.
FA31 departs, we'll say his replacement makes $2.5Mm a.a.v.
There is another $2.5Mm in cap space.
It would not surprise me to see Andreas Johnsson traded, $3.4Mm a.a.v. for pick(s).
Ilya Milcheyev needs a new deal, I imagine (hope?) 1 year $1.5Mm a.a.v.
These 2 things occur, there's another $1.9Mm in cap space.
Nick Robertson makes the club, his salary will be $850K a.a.v.
I see Jason Spezza returning, on another 1 year deal, $700K.
If possible, move Alex Kerfoot (3) and his $3.5Mm a.a.v. deal
With the departures mentioned above, cap space is now $17,191,467.
Additions mentioned above, $3,450,000, leaving $13,471,467 in cap space.
Toronto has some holes to fill.
Should AP27 (he'd have to change # in Toronto) want to come
home, a couple of options, sign a 1 year deal (highly unlikely), leaving the club with more flexibility until they have more available cap space.
When would that be?
Three years down the line, is my guess for when the cap may increase again, so yeah, no.
If he's uprooting his family from the only NHL home they've known, it's for 7 years.
My guess, in the neighbourhood of $8Mm a.a.v.
So, that would leave Toronto with $4M in space, with 4 spots to fill, around the edges.
Quite doable.
There are a few posters on here who bitch, whine and complain about GMKD frontloading of deals (as much as possible), of lots of bonuses to be paid out on July 1st's of any particular year.
There's method to the seemingly madness.
Players (those not signed to a NMC deal, ie. John Tavares, the only Leaf with full No Movement) have lower actual cash out in later years of their deals, making them often easier to trade.
Also, players love the signing bonuses, for the obvious reason of getting their money earlier, being able to make it work for them earlier/longer, but signing bonuses in Canada are taxed at a significantly lower rate than salary.
My apologies if any of my math is skewed, long day at the office, but I wanted to answer this tonight.
Meanwhile Michael Hutchinson and his Colorado Avalanche are leading Dallas 5-1.
Hutch as Jack's partner? Naaaaaaaaaah