R-E-L-A-X - Read Desc

Team: 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 15, 2022

Published: Jul. 15, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I see a lot of leafs fans panicking 2 days into F/A. I'm honestly not sure why we're all freaking out.

1. The core pieces are here, in tact, and literally improving still - coming off career years.

2. We lost Depth? So what. Our depth has done nothing for us in the playoffs. Why do we feel so inclined to keep them??? Mikheyev wasn't the answer to our 2nd line LW hole and would've been an overpaid 3rd liner on the leafs team. Quality player and a good PK'er but can be replaced with cheaper guys. Furthermore - it's time to see what our young players producing on the Marlies can do. Robertson hasn't been given an extended look anywhere on this team, when he comes up he's always playing with Spezza, Clifford, Simmonds, etc. Guys who don't match his play and with limited TOI. I say see what he can do in a third line role and see if he can work his way up the line up. Alex Steeves and Abruzzese are guys who can fill in fourth line minutes. Also I fully expect Knies to be given a look after his College year and he's a big body kid who has a wicked shot - He'll be on the team.

3. Goaltending - It's funny how the narrative changes so fast huh? Campbell who for a decade was injury prone and a backup (spending longer in the minors than Murray btw) was seen as a must sign guy. Signing him at 5 years is a huge risk given his history. Murray and Samsonov are obviously not steady guys ATM. But that's how the market has gone. Murray has played great when he's been healthy. If he and Samsonov can provide 40 games each at average to above average goaltending It'll be fine. We've seen goalies turn it on in the playoffs and Murray has a history of that. Samsonov is a young kid who could break out with proper coaching and some patience. He has a high ceiling and I think Dubas is looking to try and unlock it. Also Kallgren / Woll as our third goalie is fine, Leafs have won with them in the net and they're not bad.

4. MATTHEWS/NYLANDER CONTRACTS UP IN 2 YEARS! I think the main reason Dubas hasn't signed/traded for guys with long term contracts (Murray/Samsonov) is because the Leafs fully know they need as much cap as possible to sign Auston Matthews & Nylander in 2 years. Having a 5 million goalie who may or may not live up to that contract on the cap with those 2 guys up is playing with fire. Look at how many good players Vegas has to offload due to their cap situation.

Anyways i fully expect the leafs to be fine. Leaf fans have seen this team WIN the offseason and produce nothing in the reg season or playoffs. This team will be quality again next year and will hopefully see progress in young guys / goalies that we desperately need! YES SIR