I think your number is a bit high on Spezza, and your number includes about $1.6M in extra players (Marincin and Bracco) I dont think they carry throughout the season (likely AHL guys who get called up).

Actually, looking at it, you didn't raise the cap so the number you quote for them being over is wrong. It is based on an 81.5 cap. At 83, the expected cap, they are $3.2 over. Subtract the 1.6M in extra players, and about 800K for Spezza (he will retire or go low again) they are actually about 800K over.

Trade Dermott and Kappy/Johnsson as part of a package for a defensive upgrade and that's over 6M right there.

Missed that, thanks....

First off, no one can roll with 18 players, thinking that you don't have to carry a 13th forward and 7th dman, even at league minimum is crazy. And I don't think Spezza takes another sweetheart deal for this mess though, when he easily gets twice that with a better contender.
And again you're dealing two or three guys with mid level/lower salaries, (kappy, johnsson, dermott), all your depth, and you still have just enough for probably one quality defenseman. And those guys are quality for their salary, theres no way you get that production or level of play from league minimum guys.

The defense and team defense are weak, if you deal your mid level salaries, you are going to wind up playing 5-6, even 7 youngsters a night, (and I'm not convinced they're good youngsters), and still have the same weaknesses. The increase to holl, muzzin, Campbell had to be done, but again that's just to maintain the pretty average status quo. If we had more kapanens, reillys, sandins or Matthews coming thru the system, great, but we don't (only leaf fans think we have this awesome prospect pool) and are very hopefully expecting them to over achieve, due to the fact were capped out, and no help is coming.

Looking at the cap picture for next year, dealing a kapanen or johnsson doesn't help or address the team weaknesses, but dealing a bigger salary might.

All I'm saying is based on the salaries for next year, expect the same firewagon offense, one of the leagues worst defenses

You don't seem to understand how this site works. You've been fairly reasonable and, if anything, a little bit pessimistic. What you're supposed to do is wildly overvalue your assets and put together an incredibly lopsided trade to fix everything. I'd try Kapanen for Makar (50% retained) for example.

Chris Johnson already reported that if Spezza plays next year (and hes looking to) its the leafs or retirement and money isnt a concern for him so expect another sweetheart deal.

Freidmen also said on his podcast that its expected Spezz is getting a job with the leafs once he hangs em up

bwaahaaahaaa, thanks

I see what you've done, and while I agree with others on overpays etc. the fact that anything HAS to be done is wrong. Last year the Leafs HAD to trade Marner/Nylander because they were in cap hell. Now it's the same narrative. They can field a roster with what you have here without the overpays.

Now, is it likely there will be moves, of course. Every time makes moves/adjustments in the offseason. I would think moving one of Johnsson/Kerfoot/Kapanen is almost a given, and which player will depend on what return they want. If you package Dermott with one of them to add on defence, well that seems to be the play most people think is realistic.

I really think what Dubas does will depend on the rest of the season. If they continue to play inconsistently and bow out of the playoffs in the first round (or don't make it) I think there will potentially be major surgery. Does that mean Mitch Marner goes out the door? Maybe. He's the guy I think moves. I know analysts and older fans hate Nylander but he produces as much or more than Marner and is quite a bit cheaper. Everyone in the league would have interest in Marner and that would allow them to address the salary imbalance between D and forward. It will be interesting to see, but to say something HAS to be done is guaranteed to be wrong.

They do it all the time. Their AHL affiliate plays like 20 minutes away. They've been doing it a lot this season, too. Not crazy to think they take advantage of geography for some cap savings.

Already reported if Spezza chooses to play he will take another sweetheart deal so... I mean, I trust Friedman here.

You have Dermott making 2.9 and Kappy makes just over 3. 5.9M can get a pretty good D. That's Manson pr Pesce with room to give. You dont have to give up one of the bigger fish to get one of them.

That's how teams should be built. You lock up the stars, cycle through the young guys and depth guys, trade them for picks, use those to cycle through more depth of young guys and cheap FA signings. The cycle continues. Blackhawks/Penguins model before Blackhawks started giving out thank you deals to their depth.

Rielly - Pesce/Manson, Muzzin - Holl, Sandin - Liljegren is a perfectly fine core. Engvall, Mikheyev give the 3rd line some depth allowing to move Johnsson and/or Kappy.

They really only have to get through next season and then the new TV deal and expansion money will likely explode the cap. No sense trading a key piece when you don't need to.