Man I love the title, you know that's what we're doing it for!
With Carlson, unfortunately Gardiner might be a cap casualty the next year but thems the breaks...
I see Johnsson developing way ahead of Grundstrom at this point. Look at the scouting and numbers on Grundstrom recently, does he even have a bright future?
Might want to re-sign Borgman and Carrick for cheap, good insurance and Hainsey will be off the books for the next year.
But does that matter, this team here could use the last cheap year to push for the prize!

So how do you sign Matthews and Marner?

Fact is in order to sign Matthews/Marner and others, the Leafs can't have any Performance Bonuses carryover in2019/20. UFA signings of in 2019/20 is about 9m. Not 17m as indicated. What's so special about MLC Joe?

JVR pretty much said that it will take 6 years $36 million for him to resign back in Toronto, He's not taking less then that. John Carlson will want that 7 year good luck afford both Matthews and Marner now.

Cause if it works out like that which I think if Leafs sign JVR, IF, it'd be for an extra million which means Leafs would have around 29 million the following year.

Matthews=8x12
Marner=8x6-7
Kapanen=6x4
Gardiner=4x5
Total=28 mill

BUT that's before trading a Marleau for cap space. Say to SJS?

Marleau with 50% retained
3rd

For

2nd?

Cause if in 2019 Leafs end up winning the cup, Marleau may be content on going back to Sharks as a Stanley Cup Champion.

The Leafs can afford to keep at the players I've signed. JVR can have his extra mill. That leaves, if the cap stays at 80 mill and doesn't go up, about 22 mill in cap space. Matthews will probably sign for 12 mill, 8 years. Marner 6.5-7 mill 6 years (purely hypothetical) signing those players, sign Kapanen for about 2 mill. And if they do win the cup, they can depart with Marleau for a second or third rounder, freeing up 6.25 mill for performance bonuses. Nylander can be shifted to centre, or the Leafs can choose to keep Kadri and a second liner and look for a third liner via free agency or trade. Gardiner and Hainsey will definately be walking in free agency, but guys like Liljegren, Dermott, Borgman, and/or Rasanen should be ready to assume full time NHL duties. The Leafs will no doubt sign to the limit of the salary cap.

It's getting next year, 2018/19 the proper cap hit that so many folks ignore, before getting to 2019/20. I'll repeat, if the Leafs want no PF carryover in 2019/20 (which is very important with all big name RFA signings). The Leafs only have 9m for UFA signings for 2018/19 You had 17m....it just doesn't work. Your post did not include the approx 4.6 m cap hit in PF that are carried over from 2017/18, or the PF of 4.0m from 2018/19 and in order to include the PF from 2018/19. Horton''s 5.25m cap hit has to included on the opening day roster.

And you mentioned Marleau. He has a NMC, what is his motivation to retire if he's playing well? He would like to stay a Leaf for his last shot at the Cup. Now you're correct if he does retire, his cap hit can be traded, but there is no reason to think he is going to retire.