Toronto in 2020-2021 Trades with Calgary Dallas Etc

Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 21, 2020

Published: Apr. 21, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Ok so been thinking of a new spin to how the leafs can build a good D-Core while keeping their amazing offense. Here is what I have come up with. Noted I did not include a CBO trade as in this scenario the leafs really dont need to use theirs or trade another with another team with the CBO as leverage.

1. Calgary and Toronto have a history of big trades so I decided to after 2 Toronto born players in exchange give Calgary kerfoot, kapanen and a 4th round pick. Out of the trade Toronto gets a young cheap winger, a young cheap center and a 2nd round pick. (note - trade will only work is cbo is granted as lucic will probs get bought out by the flames giving them room to do this)

2. K now on to Dallas. Toronto trades Johnsson and Dermott and acquires Honka a 3rd and 6th round pick. Dallas gets a bottom pairing LD or RD and a young winger who can play on any line while Toronto gets a cheap depth RD to play with muzzin.

3. As for free agency the leafs left were pretty busy there. They resigned spezza to league min but gave him a bonus while still keeping it 700k. They also signed Thorton to a 1 year 700k deal as veteran presence is important and thorton spezza line could be intriguing to watch. However they go after Demelo as their big prize as he is young, can be a pretty solid top 4 RD, and can pair well with rielly or Muzzin. For RFA's brought Mikeyv on a 2 year 1.5mill deal as that kid despite getting injured can probs get a 50 point season. The only other RFAs signed was gauthier to league min deal for 2 years and he can replace spezza should he get tired. Also traded the kings a 2022 the signing rights to clifford for a 2022 7th pick. Sure clifford could stay but he could want a million or more and he would cost a 2nd round pick which to me makes him not worth it.

4. Finally a simple AHL trade Bracco for Ho-sang. Both currently are unhappy in their current situations and both could do with a fresh start. So the deal gives both a chance to play on new teams and hopefully succeed.

Overall the trades made are fair to all parties and sure our third line center depth could be ruined but its a risk worth taking to not only get cap space but keep this team competitive into the foreseeable future.

As a special interest I went to the KHL to sign a goalie to potentially replace freddie. Alexei Krasikov. With Freddies contract ending in 2021 Toronto needs to make a tough decision, resign him for (7-8.5mill) or replace him with a solid younger goalie. Now Scott and Woll are candidates but they just aint ready yet and I am not sure they will be ready by the time freddie is up either. Alexei Krasikov on the other hand is a prime candidate as he has young, tall, and his numbers are pretty solid. The leafs can do what the rangers did with shesterkin, place him with the marlies, let him play and see how he does then if he does well bring him up to see how he plays in some NHL games. If it works out toronto has a cheaper alternative to resigning freddie to a new contract and can let him go. Which would give the leafs cap to possibly resign barbanov, extend hyman, etc.

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