The Leafs will have to get rid of Marleau regardless next year

Well, if you dont sign random guys, and put the cap where it is supposed to be (League says 82.5 is the expected minimum cap), and dont overpay the **** out of Marner, you have tons of space to keep Marleau.

Best plan tho is to win the cup and hope he retires. Most of his contract is paid out already. That way we can keep gards too.

Marleau won't waive. Why would he waive when he is on a contending team?

I had not heard of the cap being 82.5M. If that is the case then there will be room for Marleau most likely on the team. But the buds still need defense and we need more experience on that blueline

i think, most likely, you deal nylander next season. load up this year, before u gotta sign matthews and marner.

I could see the Leafs doing what Washington did with Orpik for Marleau where they trade Marleau to a team and have them buy him out only to re-sign him to a lower cap. They could probably save around $2M or so in space if they did that which goes a long way when you're penny pinching. Marleau is only owed $4.25M next year in salary which the Leafs could re-sign him for in that scenario thus making that his cap hit (and saving them $2M).