You forgot many prospects, but this is not about it, just my OCD kicking in lol.

Possibility? Oh heck, sure. But I think we can get defender who is better defensively for less money than that like Tanev (4.5-5m), Hamonic (4-4.5) and since Rielly brings offense they just need good defensive player with him, Also Pietrangelo is UFA and if we would go full biblical and get him.. I cannot even imagine the power Toronto would have with in prime Tavares, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly, Pietrangelo, Kadri.. damn. Zaitsev and Dermott is great pairing and I think that Sandin-Liljegren could develop to something I would see like Keith-Barrie pairing (in maybe smaller picture). Both are smart players defensively and Liljegren is big enough to hit, he gained few pounds.

Honestly I think I'd like to look at LWer of the future to play middle 6 minutes cause I think Johnsson as of now is our top LW prospect. Unless they move Kapanen to Matthews and Nylander line then move Hyman to 3rd with Kadri and Bracco maybe?

The offensive lines would be like this in 2020. Grundstrom would be like a tank! Also Johnsson is perfect playmaker to Kadri.

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Grundstrom-Matthews-Nylander (Grundstrom is copy of Hyman, but more skilled on the puck)
Johnsson-Kadri-Kapanen/Brown (depends on who they select in expansion draft)
Engvall/Moore/Bracco-Brooks-Korshkov (whoever makes it from Engvall/Bracco/Moore)

Can you make a list of players you have protected for expansion. I’m thinking there might be a better player than Brown to draft.

Unless Zaitsev takes a massive step forward and becomes a step up from his first year, I say the leafs give up a 2nd and maybe Brooks/Bracco to insure Seattle picks him.

its been done quite ok here i think : https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/840249

instead of overpaying Dermott and Ozhiganov and keeping Hyman i think 5,8M for Gardiner would still be better.....one floppy playoffs shouldnt rule him out cause hes doing more good than bad....

on the top of previous post.....COL isnt in Cap troubles so they will proly sign Barrie......but PIT and MIN are ( kinda )....and they have 4 Ds signed each already.....so my picks would be Spurgeon & Schultz....this years already

If Zaitsev is as bad you say, teams don't take 4.5m cap hits with term. LTIR use by not real cap hit

none of that will be happening with the seattle expansion. Teams will learn from VGK. Its better to just lose 1 player than to give up way more to keep one. Look at how badly it turned out for some teams

Don't know why you think Dermot and Ozhiganov are overpaid? If they are NHL Dmen in 2020 Dermot could get longer term and Ozhignov in his UFA years a lot more money . Leafs don't have cap space for Gardiner in 2019/20 which probably the reason he has to go, even if he wanted.

Did I say anywhere that he was bad? Re read what I said. I stand behind it.

That isn't the risk I am referring too. My thought is getting that 4.5 off the book.s

I can see that hahappening for sure

Assuming that it's the same rules as Vegas expansion:

Matthews
Tavares
Kadri
Marner
Nylander
Johnsson
Kapanen

Rielly
Zaitsev
Dermott

Andersen

Unprotected

Gardiner (UFA)
Brown
Hyman

I think that's it cause the rest would be excempt right? They haven't played in the NHL for 2 years. Or is it pro hockey?

So not only are you not giving ZaitseV a shot you're trading away a great prospect and a 2nd to get rid of an excellent player?? That's not smart...

Zaitsev had a concussion and when he got back (too early imo btw) Babs rode him into the ground cause he wanted to change Zaitsev into a more defensively responsible D. Look for Zaitsev to have a breakout year with being healthy and put in a better position to flourish.

Hyman is protected, he is the most hard working guy in the organization. Change him with Kappy. I think AHL counts, thats why I think Liljegren and so on would not be exempt.. Rielly, Liljegren, Dermott is the triple I see protected,.

No what rules him out is being able to afford him... Leafs just don't have the cap space to keep him at 6-7 plus mill per season.

They have to protect Zaitsev he's got a nmc. As for Hyman for Kappy that'd be a mistake. You have 2 other Hyman types on the team, Brown and Marner (just WAY more skilled). You can afford to give up on Hyman, it'd be a mistake to give up on Kappy.

Will try to simulate it later at night when i'll be at work.......

Oh right.. BUT it would be a mistake letting Hyman go. He represents everything Toronto organization is. He is role model to kids. He should be untouchable. As for Kapanen. I like him a lot, BUT he is bottom-6 winger.. many leafs fans are overvaluing Kappy a lot.

Honestly I just picked one. I think all 3 will be available.

Spurgeon imo is the biggest wild card cause with Parise and Suter they kinda have to go for it but those contracts are horrible!! Spurhein I think we'd gave to aquire at the deadline then extend him, I don't think he'd choose Toronto.

Shultz is an easy sell. Kinda... Pens you'd have to think will be retooling and won't be able to afford everyone BUT with that said is Toronto on his radar?

Barrie is a good option because sure Avs will have cap space but will Barrie want to stay? He's been there for a lot of the crap years, if they aren't contenders he may want to leave to get a ring. Maybe...

I'd honestly love to see Kappy-Matthews-Nylander line this year. They'd wreck world's!!! Kappy is such a great player and to say that he's bottom 6 is underestimating him. It's not like he couldn't keep up? What's his weakness? Points? Well when you play on a line with Martin, Moore, for most of the year you would too. He played 1 shift with Matthews and got his 1st career assist I'd hate to see anyone go and it'd be awesome if Leafs could swing a deal to keep everyone but I don't see it happening. I'm WAY more comfortable letting Hyman go then Kappy. Kappy is a way harder player to find.

Even though the NHL has said it would remain largely the same process, I'd expect at least some minor changes between the Vegas expansion draft and what will be final draft arrangement for Seattle. Either way, I would expect the Leafs to get creative. Perhaps the Leafs make some sort of deal with Seattle, as many teams made with Vegas? Based on a pure-pick arrangement, meaning there was no deal in place, I'd imagine any expansion team would take a 2020-21 version of Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnson (based on projections at this point) then Connor Brown. My assumption is, of course, that Mike Babcock will get a say in whose protected, and there is no way he is letting go of either Hyman or Brown without a fight.

Keep in mind that the current CBA is set to expire after the 2021-22 season. It would look pretty awful for the league to expand with Seattle in 2020-21 and then face a potential lockout after the following season. As I don't believe there is yet a confirmed date for a Seattle team to enter the league, it might need to wait until a new CBA gets finalized.

DO PEOPLE NOT KNOW HOW TO READ!? Re read what I said, man you guys are so obsessed with being critics you don't even read.

Remember June 2017, some Leafs fans were going crazy thinking they might lose either Leipisic or Leivo. And they did, but the teams didn't collapse. Next expansion draft the Leafs (and most good teams) are going to lose a NHL player, maybe even a good one.....so what? If one Brown or Kapanen goes is really going to devastating?
Let's say the expansion draft is put off to 2021. Kadri and Reilly only have one year left on their contracts. Maybe you leave them exposed...you only lose one, and keep two younger players instead. Imagine the riots on Yonge Street if that happens.