Team: 2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 31, 2018

Published: Sep. 2, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Trade #01:
Jake Gardiner is a good defenceman, but I find it highly unlikely that the Leafs will be able to sign him to a contract extension - especially with the likes of Nylander, Matthew's & Marner looking to receive a significant pay increase. The Jets have the luxury of having three stellar right-handed shooting defensemen, but not a lot of depth on the left side. Kyle Dubis had mentioned that the Leafs are open to short-term deals for established veterans and Tyler Myers may be a good fit for the buds to help balance the defence core. Both Gardiner & Myers are 28 years old, and both are heading into the final year of their contracts. Myers' cap hit is $5.5 million, while Gardiner's is $4.05 million. Throw in a couple of picks for each side, and the trade works for both organizations.

Trade #02:
Come training camp the Leafs are going to have a logjam of players trying to compete for the bottom pairing defensive spots as well as the backup goaltending position. I think that Curtis McElhinney is going to have a slight edge for retaining his position because Babcock likes his work ethic and has shown that he can be a clutch player when his team needs him to be. Don't get me wrong; Garret Sparks will be directly in his rearview mirror coming off of his Calder Cup winning performance. And seeing that he can't go back to the Marlies without clearing waivers someone is going to have to move to come under the cap (e.g. Calvin Pickard). Looking at the likes of Edmonton's current lineup, they are a team who could use another goalie option should Cam Talbot start the season off slow. And the likes of Calvin Pickard who does have NHL experience could be a viable commodity for the Oilers to have as a cap solid contingency plan. Throw in a young, cheap defenceman for picks, and you could have a decent trade.

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