Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 27, 2020

Published: Aug. 27, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Alot of Leafs haters thought Dubas couldn't get a late first round pick for Kapanen, much less a lottery pick and he did. Johnsson can fetch at least a second rounder if not a very late first round pick. If Sandin is NHL ready I think Dermott is expendable. I don't see him as more than a 5/6 defensemen as with a future of Rielly-Schneider, Sandin-Liljegren he is a player they can live without. Plus bottom pairing dmen aren't that hard to find and we still haven't seen Lehtonen yet. Schneider is the prototypical dman the Leafs really need, and will take 2-3 years of development, but they fill a big void at the cost of a top 9 forward. If the Leafs weren't in cap helll I'd like to see both Kapanen and Kadri for that matter on this team, but they just aren't getting it done in the first round and they need a different approach. I like the toughness and grit both Tanev and Gudas bring; good IQ, good D, good puck protection and movement, blocking shots. Tanev's injuries are a concern, and with Vancouver's run he might stay there, although they have their own cap issues going forward. This team won't win a cup, but they might get to the second round. With development of their prospects especially on the back end they should be a contender in 2-3 years.

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