In this case, there is only room for 1 scratch. This is why 11m is not affordable unless a contract like is moved

1 scratch isn’t realistic imo considering how easy someone can get hurt. So there would have to be a trade so who do you recommend

Not sure of all the LTIR complications but Hyman is on LTIR probably till January. So his 2.4m salary is replaced by a 800,000 guy for half a year. So that covers maybe 800,000 of the 1.4m overage. So the going with shortened roster all season wouldn't be necessary. Just saying the 1.397m overage isn't as daunting as it appears on the post.

Is management really bent that far over the barrel?

Marner is not getting 11million. Remember last season when Nylander thought his holdout would net him north of 8 Million???

I don't know what the big problem is? Marner is literally one of the best players in the league. Why are fans bickering over 0.5M -1.5M? So what, you have to overpay him? He's literally one of the best players in the league! Probably a 100 point scorer at least once during the duration of that contract.

Rangers just paid Panarin as much as Matthews and he's never scored over 90 points and is 27 years old and is a winger......

Everyone remember when Draisaitl got too much money too? Not looking so bad now does it?

the bigger issue is term. marner's camp wants a shorter contract; but also wants high pay.

toronto would break the bank to sign him, but only if he committed long term.

Maybe Hyman or Dermott to LTIR? (although the latter wouldn't save much)

We and maybe the Leafs truly don't know Marner "wants". Maybe in public and in negotiations he says he wants short term just because the Leaf wants long term. So he "gives in" to the Leafs and signs long term, which just might be Marner's desire all along.

I have a feeling Ceci will not play a single game as a maple leaf, hopefully Liljigren is ready to step up

Would have let him walk if they didn’t want him

They are looking to get some sort of asset for him, hence the easy to move 1 year deal

Literally get a 7th round pick if he’s moved at that cap

Watching Liljegren, I think it's a big hope he ready for October. Ceci, I would rather see him play. His stats record (if that means anything) isn't any worse than a lot of Dmen playing on a poor team.
Difficult to rid the 4.5m contract without taking similar money back. Plus if he is as bad as folks say, what are you really getting in return?

IMO, Ottawa and Ceci had already agreed to the contract before the trade,(though not signed) so the Leafs were obligated to honour it. Yea it might have been better if the Leafs had that free 4.5m cap space last July.