Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 26, 2020

Published: Apr. 28, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

With these trades the leafs not only build on Defense but they increase the offenses capability of playing a better defensive game as well without loosing too much on their amazing offense. Here is what I have come up with. Noted I did not include a CBO trade as in this scenario the leafs really don't need to use theirs or trade another with another team with the CBO as leverage.

1. Calgary and Toronto have a history of good trades so I decided to after 2 Toronto born players in exchange give Calgary kapanen. Out of the trade Toronto gets a young cheap winger, a young cheap center. (note - trade will only work is cbo is granted as lucic will probs get bought out by the flames giving them room to do this). In general Calgary is reportedly very interested in Kapanan so I could see this trade working for both sides as toronto gets depth pieces and Calgary gets a solid top 9 RW who can pp2, pk, and can skate like a rocket.

2. K now on to Anaheim. Toronto trades Liligren, Engvall, a 2021 2nd and 2020 4th in exchange for manson with (1.1mill retained). This may be an overpayment for manson but its done so Anaheim retains a higher salary. Trade works for both parties as Anaheim gets a future top 4 RD, a depth defensive LW/RW and 2 good picks. (The trade will primarily depend on if Anaheims gm drafts Drysdale and decided manson is expendable)


3. Finally a trade between Florida and toronto happens. With florida needing to shed 10 million reportedly toronto trades kerfoot and dermott for weegar and a 3rd round pick. Florida gets a potential 2nd to 3rd line center whose cost is cheap and a cheaper LD or RD in Dermott, while Toronto gets a partner for Rielly or Muzzin.

4. As for free agency the leafs were not busy there. They resigned spezza to league min but gave him a bonus while still keeping it 700k. For RFA's brought Mikeyv on a 2 year 1.5mill deal as that kid despite getting injured can probs get a 50 point season. The only other RFAs signed was gauthier to league min deal for 2 years and he can replace spezza should he get tired. Aberg also comes back to a 3 year 850k deal and can play on the 4th line. I chose him as he is a shootout specialist like spezza so he can help the leafs in that area. Also traded the kings a 2022 the signing rights to clifford for a 2022 7th pick. Sure clifford could stay but he could want a million or more and he would cost a 2nd round pick which to me makes him not worth it.

Overall the trades made are fair to all parties as not only get cap space but keep this team competitive into the foreseeable future.

As a special interest I went to the KHL to sign a goalie to potentially replace freddie. Alexei Krasikov or Anton Krasotkin. With Freddies contract ending in 2021 Toronto needs to make a tough decision, resign him for (7-8.5mill) or replace him with a solid younger goalie. Now Scott and Woll are candidates but they just aint ready yet and I am not sure they will be ready by the time freddie is up either. Alexei Krasikov or Anton Krasotkin on the other hand are prime candidates as they are young, tall, and their numbers are pretty solid. The leafs can do what the rangers did with shesterkin, place either of them with the marlies, let him play and see how either does then if either does well bring whichever they signed up to see how he plays in some NHL games. If it works out toronto has a cheaper alternative to resigning freddie to a new contract and can let him go. Which would give the leafs 5 mill cap to possibly resign barbanov, extend hyman, and even sigh rielly to an early extension, etc.

p.s not all trade ideas are mine and for those who created them thank you. The calgary trade however was me

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.