How Id Use The Deadline Cap Space

Doesn't have to be this specific deal or necessarily a 3rd round pick as the compensation... so you think theres a chance?

If the leafs are out of a playoff spot come deadline there’s definitely a chance

lol...it would be a good "mending fences" transaction.

I think if Dubas can get a healthy return for JG...he needs to seriously consider making that moves....so yea...I think there's a chance there

As for Toronto taking on the role of facilitator? I dunno....I obviously think it's the smart play. I think buying this year would be unwise....and I don't think they'll sell of pending UFA's....so this is a way to utilize all our Robidas Island money

While I get the logic behind the idea, it just doesn’t make sense for Toronto to be the middle team facilitating a retention trade.

Toronto’s cap situation doesn’t really allow for it. Guentzel would have about $1,314,600 left on his contract at the deadline, which would be the cap hit assumed by the acquiring team - if you have Toronto retain 50% of that then it becomes $657,300. That amount doesn’t get a 3rd round pick in return, it’s more likely it’s a 4th at best but probably a 5th which just doesn’t do anything for the Leafs. However, because Toronto will be in LTIR space at the end of the season, they wouldn’t acquire the cap hit of $657,300 but they would actually acquire 50% of the full cap hit which is $3M. This only puts them further into the LTIR space and prevents them from making any moves of their own.

While I agree the team shouldn’t be big buyers or sellers at the deadline, they still need to buy. You can’t kick a season down the road when the core is in their prime. It doesn’t send the right message to the players or coaches. And frankly Treliving owes it to Keefe to give him a somewhat NHL level defence core to see what he has. I wouldn’t spend big, but I’d definitely rather use the cap space they have to bring in a defender or 2. Would be nice to ge ta depth forward or goalie but those aren’t the main priorities. Still can’t kick the season for nothing though

2 things....

a) that's not an accurate interpretation of deadline cap hit transactions. Just look at last year's Ryan O'Reilly trade. St. Louis retained 50% of $7.5m, then traded him to minny who retained 50% of $3.75M (and got a 4th rounder for it). The cap hit is the cap hit. The salary remaining is the salary remaining. The value of a 4th rounder going to Minnesota was for their use of cap space, not the value of them paying 50% of the remaining salary owed.

b) I believe that the current roster needs to earn deadline acquisitions. I don't look at it from a core/prime window, but rather if the current team is putting in the effort I think justifies giving them a boost at the deadline. Right now I'm not seeing it from this group. That could change over the next 6 weeks...but I think it could be a valuable message to deliver that they won't continue to be rewarded with new toys to play with if they don't up the level of effort each night.

Stop waiting for someone else to fix their problems and start being part of the solution.