Nylander will sign for 6.5+, Marner likely around 8 but that can change depending on the season he has. If I'm the Leafs I would get him signed now before he puts up an 85 pt season and drives that number closer to 10. Matthews is a lock for 11 in my opinion him comp is between Eichel and McDavid.

Hard to say with Kap and Johnsson. If Johnsson plays up in the lineup at all and puts up a 20/40 season he could push his number up a bit. Kap is pretty close I think.

Lastly I would move the D around a bit and have Ozhiganov depending on whether his game translates to the NHL play with Dermott, and have Hainsey play bottom pair with Liljegren to give him that veteran presence and allow him to play a style that is comfortable to him with a bit of a safety net. Although I would still rather see a better top pair guy to play with Rielly. Zaitsev even when he re finds his form of 2 years ago isn't the right type of guy for Rielly.

I agree 100%, the point I am more so making is we can wait to make that big move. I say when Marleau comes off the books, then you go for the big fish. But moving out our depth up front at this point is not smart. Dubas has a plan, and leafs fans need to let these Tanev, Parayko and Faulk deals go. Toronto should wait and develop. Its cheaper and potentially better in the long run.

you have 342K of cap space, no extra roster players in case of injury, and all the big guns will get way more than you're giving them.


It doesn't look as good as you think.

Thats bringing back Hainsey and Lindholm which we do not have too. There is 2.5 mill. That is also doing it without moving out a contract, which is still an option. Point is, there isn't this huge rush, and we do not have to go find this big name defender. There are several people that can step in for injury purposes so I really do not understand that comment. We have goalies, defenders and forwards that could come up easily. I also didn't resign any two way contracts which there are several. We also do not have to sign Borgman. Everyone thinks the leafs have no one left in their pipeline. We could let every expiring contract walk for two straight years and still have players to step up. We have time.

Another thing to take into account is that there is a good chance the cap goes upto the 83 mil range which with this lineup gives an additional chunk which would cover contingencies. Although it would also only cover the true salaries of Marner Matthews and Nylander. It's close but it does show just how cap staples we are in the future.

Your pretty accurate with the salaries. The three stars will for sure take discounts to make this team work. Kapenan will want a bridge deal to see if he actually puts up the numbers, all depending on Babs regarding his ice time because he barely gets any! Or I should say, more then he should be getting. Worst case, we can always get rid of Marleau during the 2019 season (most likely to San Jose, also it would be pretty sad to see him go) to help with the cap.



Jempey82 has a point in regards with the cap.

Key word there is future. And in the future we wont have 6.25 million tied up in Marleau. Guys I really think we are good, truly.

Ya the point is you'll have to move someone. The core will stay together but eventually I see a need to trade someone for a solid d man.

Not unless Liljegren pans out. Which he very well could. You develop D, you dont sign/trade for them.

well, yes and no. The leafs premier talent is certainly up front. I think Trouba would be a pretty amazing fit with Toronto if they can find a deal that moves some salary out.

I don't think the Leafs will be a legit cup contender until they get another first pairing guy to play with Reilly.

Pens won back to backs with mediocre defense. I wouldn't sell the boys short until the fat lady sings.

If anything, you're overestimating the cost for the third-line wingers, so you may have more cap room than it appears. Plus, the cap may well be $82M next year. I'm still a fan of keeping the forwards together, as you advocate.

Agree with your first two sentences, not entirely with your third. (I was longing for Dubas to sign Greg Pateryn at the price he eventually achieved.) Toronto can make picks-for-players trades for a couple of years, even theoretically "overpaying," and simply consider it the (acceptable) cost of signing John Tavares. (Wouldn't YOU have paid one or two firsts and two or three seconds for him?) My point is that there may be good defensemen from Chris Tanev on down to Nick Jensen or Neal Pionk available who could strengthen the defense without sending the budget into orbit.

I definitely do not think Chris Tanev is our answer. Maybe a low risk, low cost RHD. But honestly, I think he wait and see what we have pans out and then decide.

I still keep looking at Keith Connauton (LD) and Robert Bortuzzo (RD, but UFA). Rielly-Ozhiganov, Connauton-Zaitsev and Hainsey/Dermott-Carrick could be a backfield that plays together through 2020 (depending upon whether Hainsey retires).

Even if Hainsey doesn't retire, I don't think we should resign him. If it wasn't for his contract I think Borgman would have taken his spot by now.