Team: 2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 28, 2018

Published: Apr. 28, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Catching up on some SDP today and (it's not an original idea, but) I was inspired to see what the LEafs could look like if they beefed their roster for a season whlie they still have Matthews and Marner on the cheap.

The Leafs most likely won't squander this opportunity like Chiarelli did in Edmonton. They have one cheap year left. The kids have worked their asses off but weren't met with success like they wanted. Reward them and the fans.

Heads up, I'm an Oilers fan, so if I got the depth chart wrong or there's a kid on the Marlies that should be here and not in the minors, lemme know!

So instead of giving up a 1st-Round Pick + for rentals at the TDL, sign them in the offseason. Kane's still young. Let him grab a good payday before settling down. I doubt Green says no to that kind of money either. Thornton gets his last retirement cheque and reunites with Marleau.

Also, inb4 Lou just becomes Dubas' assistant GM for next season. He'll move on then.

I'd look at rotating Hainsey-Zaitsev-Ozighanov on a nightly basis: Hainsey seemed pretty burnt out come the playoffs and Zaitsev needs time to recoup his game. Ozighanov is largely unproven (is around $2M reasonable? Idk personally) so I'd look to shelter his minutes until he can prove that he has an NHL-calibre game. No reason you can't have a revolving door on the RHS of the bottom pairs. Gardiner and Dermott are competent enough that they could handle a mix-and-match set of linemates. RW can be rotated as needed, and the same for Johnsson/Leivo, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Leivo gone come October.

There's no need to trade McElhinny outside of two reasons imo: Andersen needs a guy who can force him to play 15 fewer games during the season AND Sparks really shouldn't be in the AHL next season. If they elect to keep Pickard, I could see the Leafs trying to opt for a 57/20/5 split between Andersen/Sparks/Pickard over next season. Another guy that would probably perform in the playoffs better if he wasn't as worn out.

PSA: Don't trade a top-4 puck-moving defenseman unless the return shouldn't be passed up. Gardiner isn't a bum, but does need a reliable partner and/or reduced minutes.

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