Another approach

Created by: swinny

Team: 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Dec. 11, 2023

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Legend

Left Handed

Original Team

Waivers Exempt

Right Handed

Position

Trade Clause

Max Perf. Bonus

Expiry Status

Term Remaining

McDavid, Connor

$12,500,000 ( Performance Bonus

$250,000)

NMC

UFA - 5

Description

Yup, I am sure I will get roasted as per the usual but.... I will attempt to justify my signings.

Roslovic - signed to move Taveres to the wing. Was thinking Wennberg for his defensive acumen (amd still am), but at 26, fits the core of the team. Isn't going to light the lamp, but for this season doesn't need to carry the line either. Reasonable contract with term that in year 3 and 4 I would hope he moves to 3C as Minten works his way up. Reasonable to expect 50 points. Now, if Domi is willing to take $3 million again with term, I go there.... but I don't anticipate that.

Dakota - a physical bottom 6 player who does have some offensive skill. Seeing minutes on the PK, giving the Leafs possibilities. Could be used as a front of net presence on the PP.

Hakanpää - a physical D with a no-frills game, which is sorely needed. Underrated IMO. Should pair very well with Reilly. Above average skater.

Zadarov - another big body D that plays physical. I think we can agree he can handle 18-19 minutes a night. We all know what he can do.

Lagesson - has played well enough to be brought back as the #6/7 D. Reasonable to suggest he replaces McCabe on the bottom pairing in 2024-25.

Freidman - signed as a #6-8 D because the Leafs blueline depth is terrible. Plays a heavy game, keeps it fairly simple. Quite reliable for his role.

DeSmith - simply has a track record where I feel comfy with him and Woll as the tandem.

Overall: just wanted to move on from Bertuzzi and Domi at forward (noting if Domi were to resign at $3 million I would do that over Roslovic). My direction does detract from having some grit in the top 6 I concede that. Bottom 6 should be a much better defensive group. 4th line in particular should be able to play 10-11 minutes a game. As a group, lends better to workload management. The depth at forward is with the Marlies - where Minten (who I am marinating for a year), Cowan and Holmberg could be obvious call ups.

The blueline is much nastier, but remains solid in its ability to move the puck up ice. Offense from the back end will pretty much be Reilly and Timmins (provided he can stay of the IR), with hopes of Liligren taking another step here.

Free Agent Signings

RFA	YEARS	CAP HIT
Gregor, Noah	2	$950,000
Robertson, Nicholas	2	$1,750,000
Liljegren, Timothy	1	$2,750,000

UFA	YEARS	CAP HIT
Nylander, William	8	$10,500,000
Zadorov, Nikita	4	$4,000,000
Joshua, Dakota	3	$1,000,000
DeSmith, Casey	2	$2,000,000
Roslovic, Jack	4	$4,250,000
Hakanpää, Jani	3	$3,000,000
Friedman, Mark	2	$850,000
Lagesson, William	3	$900,000

Trades

TOR

Sturm, Nico

Additional Details:

Leafs get an excellent 4C who plays with some truculence, great in the face off circle and very good on the PK.

SJS

2024 5th round pick (TOR)

Additional Details:

Alex Steeves (glitch won't let me add him properly)

A lot of haters for Steeves on CF, but the rebuilding Sharks get a workhorse player. Deserves a shot in the NHL, but that isn't going to be in Toronto - to much depth on the wing. Young with some skill; and has been consistent in the AHL. IMO, much of the Sharks AHL depth is not NHL ready, where Steeves really is and fits the rebuild.

See him being a productive 3rd liner for the Sharks.

Adding a 5th to this package, as I feel on the open market Sturm could land a 3rd. Steeves and a 5th could prove to be a better return.

Draft	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7
2024
2025
2026

ROSTER

LONG-TERM OUTLOOK

EMBED

TEXT-EMBED

ROSTER SIZE	SALARY CAP	CAP HIT	OVERAGES	BONUSES	CAP SPACE
23	$87,700,000	$87,244,667	$0	$0	$455,333

Left Wing	Centre	Right Wing
Knies, Matthew $925,000$925,000 LW, RW RFA - 1	Matthews, Auston $13,250,000$13,250,000 C NMC UFA - 4	Nylander, William $10,500,000$10,500,000 RW UFA - 8
Tavares, John $11,000,000$11,000,000 C, LW NMC UFA - 1	Roslovic, Jack $4,250,000$4,250,000 C, RW UFA	Marner, Mitchell $10,903,000$10,903,000 RW NMC UFA - 1
Robertson, Nicholas $1,750,000$1,750,000 LW, RW RFA	Kämpf, David $2,400,000$2,400,000 C M-NTC UFA - 3	Järnkrok, Calle $2,100,000$2,100,000 RW, C, LW M-NTC UFA - 2
Joshua, Dakota $1,000,000$1,000,000 LW UFA	Sturm, Nico $2,000,000$2,000,000 C UFA - 1	Gregor, Noah $950,000$950,000 LW, RW RFA
		Reaves, Ryan $1,350,000$1,350,000 RW UFA - 2

Left Defense	Right Defense	Goaltender
Rielly, Morgan $7,500,000$7,500,000 LD NMC UFA - 6	Hakanpää, Jani $3,000,000$3,000,000 RD UFA	Woll, Joseph $766,667$766,667 G RFA - 1
Zadorov, Nikita $4,000,000$4,000,000 LD/RD UFA	Liljegren, Timothy $2,750,000$2,750,000 RD RFA
McCabe, Jake $2,000,000$2,000,000 LD/RD M-NTC UFA - 1	Timmins, Conor $1,100,000$1,100,000 RD RFA - 1	DeSmith, Casey $2,000,000$2,000,000 G UFA
Lagesson, William $900,000$900,000 LD/RD UFA	Friedman, Mark $850,000$850,000 LD/RD UFA

Top Comments

Dec. 19, 2023 at 9:48 p.m.

dannibalcorpse

we miss leo k

Joined: Feb. 2018

Posts: 5,973

Likes: 5,107

I don't hate it? I think that the market forces you to pick only one of Hakanpaa and Zadorov, but if Woll keeps developing into at least a serviceable half of a tandem I think this would be an interesting way to run it. I like the idea of focusing on solid, mid-tier role players - if you're keeping Nylander, you have a ton of firepower at the top of the lineup and getting solid regulars like Sturm and Roslovic will build up good depth and make it harder to just focus on shutting down one line.