Leafs RFA Offseason Keeping the Squad Mostly Intact

Team: 2019-20 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Mar. 15, 2019

Published: Mar. 15, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Trying to take a look at what the Leafs roster might look like come next season, maybe a little pessimistic view. I believe it would be best to sign Marner longer than JT and Matthews and $10 mil AAV sounds like the floor for him. At this point I don't know if that would even get this deal done.

Right now I view Johnsson and Kapanen in a similar vein. I think Johnsson signs a bit longer term, since he has arb rights, and $14 mil/4 years gives the Leafs some long term security. Kapanen, who does not have arb rights, probably signs a bridge deal for $8 mil/2 years. Another bit of security for next summer when the Leafs will need to sign Dermott (After Muzzin and Marleau are off the books). Both are finishing their first full year (1 and a half for Kapanen) so I don't see them around Nylander money just yet.

Those 3 deals put the team over the cap so trading some salary will more than likely be necessary. Zaitsev should be moved before the new year (July 1 NTC kicks in) and I believe CBJ could be a good fit among others (EDM, OTT, NYI). I see CBJ losing Duchene, Panarin, Bobrovsky, Dzingel in free agency and going into rebuild/retool mode. Zaitsev is signed long term at a reasonable salary (maybe on the high end, but just not going to work with the Leafs current situation) and can eat minutes behind Jones and Savard. The Leafs also add Brown (need to shed more salary and Brown seems most likely, could be Nylander or Kadri going elsewhere) and multiple picks (2019 or 2020) since CBJ traded away a lot of picks for rentals. I included Kukan and Sedlak going back to the Leafs. Sedlak is mostly just depth and provides another 4th line option. Kukan, I do not know much about him, but I do like his metrics, he can be another option on the back end.

Borgman and Rosen would be brought up after losing Gardiner, Hainsey, and Ozhiganov (KHL) and would allow Liljegren and Sandin to stay with the Marlies. They could then be late season/playoff push callups.

Again, just trying to take a look at what it would take to keep this team intact. Not sure if CBJ would want this trade, but I could see it working out if they lose a lot of UFAs.