Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 10, 2020

Published: Aug. 10, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Disclaimer: I don't think this Leafs team is "fundamentally broken" or "needs to be torn down and rebuilt" as much of Twitter does; they got shafted by two scorching hot goalies and a historically bad shooting %. There are clear issues, yes, but this team was two lucky bounces away from round two and few(er) people would've batted an eye had they been knocked out by Tampa Bay. But, if there was to be some shake-up, here's a direction I believe the team should consider.
- LA is flush with top prospects and picks - adding Marner would accelerate that rebuild, and give them a marquee star to build around. Leafs add a younger player with the 2nd overall on an ELC too, and add a second and a hopeful defender for the future too. I can hear complaints on this already, but regardless of your opinion on his performance in the play-ins, he's a 90-point star who's under contract for the next five years. That holds a lot of value, and is much more of a sure thing than picks, even a top two pick. As for the pick, I have Byfield there, but I also think Stutzle would be great - depends on your preference.
- Shifting Marner's salary off allows the Leafs to sign that marquee defender everyone is clamouring for - I feel like the salary is fair for a 30 y/o guy while also considering that the cap has flattened. One final pay-day for him with his hometown team.
- Also brought in another former Blue in Edmundsson - he would've been a UFA, but by flipping Johnsson (a redundancy earning more than his replacement would) to secure rights, I'd hope they can sign him as the shutdown, top-PK guy the Leafs have needed for a while now. Also spreads three strong defenders across three pairs, while letting their partner free-wheel on offence.
- didn't mind Holl when sheltered, but he got exposed big time in the play-ins; as for Marincin, i never want to see him touch a puck in any capacity again. Just take away his stick and he'd be better.
- brought Spezza back, despite the fact he probably deserves better than us - hoping potential front-office job in a handshake deal helps?
- idk you guys this is all still painful and sad

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