2023-2024

Leafs are much better to buying out Murray at 670,000 next season and 2.6 the next rather giving up a 1st/3rd and Niemela for 3m Laughton. Leafs are better to play/develop Holmberg and SAD at a total of 2m, Niemela is expected to a full time NHLer by 24/25.

Agree with some, I just cant see the leafs losing the cap space as long as they're looking at Matthews, Nylander and then Marner all hitting UFA. 600k isn;t much in 23-24, but 2.6mil in 24-25 is. The failed TV deals have kind of hinted that the cap might not shoot up and Laughton/Sandstrom are better in the next 2-3 yrs than Murray/Niemala. Im torn on Holmberg, SAD, and Steeves and could easily see them NOT re-signing Kampf if they acquire the better 2-way Laughton, with one of the younger guys getting 4th line C.

Not re-signing Kampf and playing Holmberg or SDA on 4th line, allows a more reasonable Zucker offer (I've gone too cheap at 2.9, but 3.6 is more realistic) and allows for a better 4th line LW option than Heinen - maybe Evan Rodrigues/Pulijarvi/Kapanen is a better but slightly more 200-400k option.

I've been saying for years that Matthews isn't resigning with the Leafs. But let's imagine the cap goes up from 82.5m to 86,5m in 24/25 a 4m increase. If Matthews gets 14m and Nylander 9m, that's an increase of 4.4m for just those two guys. It doesn't make the Leafs better and they will other players expect pay increases also.
Leafs ownership have interesting decision this summer. If the Leafs "fail" in the playoffs does Dubas keep his job? And the other big decision is TDL February 2024, are the Leafs sellers of upcoming UFAs for Matthews, Nylander and Brodie? Reload for with futures which Dubas has traded away at TDL...with no results , and go into summer of 2024 UFA market with lots of cap.

If Mathews doesn't resign this summer they have to start listening to trade offers for him. I'd personally start by talking to who ever lands the first overall pick, if it's Arizona and a sign and trade could be worked out, that would be the dream for the Leafs

IMO the best Leaf scenario is a TDL deal. Matthews's 11.6m won't be an onerous, and if Matthews wants an eight year deal he would be more willing to trade (his has a M NTC). Yeah, the Arizona would be ideal for the Leafs and maybe even Arizona but it's my feeling Matthews doesn't want to sign with Arizona. He's looking at a big hockey/USA market with a good team. LA fits that mode