Quoting: Bc44
I think i have done 12 gm leaf teams trying to figure this very thing out. There are 100 trades that make sense from a value for value perspective ie hockey trades. However the cap situation around the league is troubling to teams like the leafs. An extra million retained or traded can handcuff a team moving fwd. With that said i thinknthe leafs have 2 choices trade kappanen kerfoot or johnnson to a cap sapce team ie ott or njd for a pick or several picks to clear their cap to hit the ufa market strong and sign a big ticket dman . This is not ideal as this wouldnt maximize the value of these nhl caliber players. Almost a strategic salary dump scenario. Option 2 is going to be very unpopular with leaf fans and its basically do nothing major resign all your obvious guys and add 1 million dollar veteran defenceman to try and plug holes for now. This option is probably the best thing for the organization but the fan base would flip.
The Leaf certainly haven't the worse cap situation. Other teams with NTC and are team that have trouble signing their own RFAs.
One suggestion I had was just give 3.4m Johnsson away and replace him with a 925,000 winger. Now Johnsson playing value certainly is OK but in these crazy cap situation for so many teams, the Leafs (and other teams) just might no choice. Last year the Leaf had to give up a 1st just get rid of Marleau's 6.25 cap year for one year.
I know so many folk think the Leafs Dmen are just so bad. I don't believe that. For one, the Leafs worse Dman last year Barrie will be gone. Ceci and has 4,5m cap hit is gone. Reilly, Muzzin and Dermot were all on LTIR. Reilly, Muzzin, Dermot, Sandin, Holl, Marincin and Liljegren....that's 7 at just 19.5m. Gotta think there a way to sign a competent NHLer. You're 1m solution might be the answer.
If we looked at revenues for the 2019/20 season, gee the cap should for 2020/21 should really be 70m. The owners and the NHLPA have to find a solution to the cap. Plus the NHLPA and its members will have to vote and the sharing of their share of the cap. I believe ALL salaries might be reduced. If I was betting the 2020/21 season will not start in October, and really the whole season could be lost.