Quoting: Shibbal18
Team bonuses also a little liberal with the cap ceiling.
I am pretty certain bonuses aren't an issue. There are no high end rookies with rookie bonuses in the lineup. That was an issue when Matthews, Marner and Nylander were on their rookie deals, which they are no longer on. And the cap projections have been anywhere from 83-84 million. However you slice it, its not nearly as dire as you guys want it to be. Its all just wild speculation fueled by fans and the media.
The defence is definitely going to be inexperienced and Brown and one of Kapanen and Johnsson, possibly both will likely be moved, but that isn't a huge loss. The Leafs are good at developing young players and for every depth guy that succeeds they have a couple of Marlies who are ready to jump in and earn time. So when a young guy prices his self out of town, he gets replaced with a Marlie who is cheaper and probably about the same quality of player. The difference between Kapanen and Nylander is way bigger than the difference between Kapanen and Moore.
Having too many good young players is a very good problem to have. Even the sentiment that TO is going to have pay a huge price to get under the cap is silly. Why? Because they have high value pieces they can move for fair returns that many teams are going to be interested in obtaining. Moving Marleau to make this season easier at a huge cost, doesn't make sense nor do I think he's even going to want to waive his NMC. Moving Zaitsev wouldn't cost the Leafs anything but it wouldn't bring back a return either, he'd be moved for a 5th or 6th rounder because contrary to what fans on here like to say, he's a serviceable 2nd pair defensive defenceman. That has value but since the Leafs are against the cap they won't get fair value for him, which is why they will get basically nothing. Will all that said, moving him creates another hole that needs to be filled and would result in moving other guys out to fill that hole and likely weaken the team further.
What a reasonable and forward thinking Leaf (I raise my hand) thinks, is that the Leafs should start the season with young guys on the blueline and see how things go. Its is not impossible for Rosen, Liljegren, Sandin or Holl to surprise. Really the Leafs need to replace Hainsey's minutes and he sucks so that isn't hard. Gardiner? Sure he had good offence but he was also the best player at hanging his teammates out to dry. Once Dermott is back, the Leafs have a capable top 4 in Rielly (should have been a Norris finalist), Muzzin, Dermott and Zaitsev. So really if Rosen (Who probably would have won the defenceman of the year award in the AHL had he not been injured blocking a shot) makes the jump, Dermott continues to progress, and Muzzin and Zaitsev continue to build off what they did late in the season and in the playoffs, the defence could be improved over last year. We really only need Rosen, and 1 other guy to surprise and Rosen wouldn't even be a big surprise, he's a terrific player.
All this doom and gloom is just wishful thinking from spiteful fans.
Uh....oh.....I get it....troll job. 
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