Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 29, 2020

Published: Sep. 29, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Left with less cap space than I would like, but there are two main themes here.

Double Down on defenders. Adding two players and keeping Travis Dermott creates depth and competition. Demelo had wonderful results last year on a terrible Ottawa team. Roy similar in LA and is a potential stud. You get a year of him cheap to see what he can do beside Reilly. You also have the ability to make a move if somebody like Lehtonen, Sandin or Liljegren really press the issue. But having depth and options is far better (I think) then just adding one big guy and being thin again.

Adding Larsson and Fast are forwards with great defensive results. They can help you close out games against top teams. There's also some pieces to shuffle that line around and turn it into an offensive threat if you need to catch up. Not sure I love Robertson on the 4th line but he would clearly have the chance to earn his way higher in the lineup (similar to Kapanen/Johnsson when they started). I think the salaries are somewhat in line but even if not it's all just a theoretical exercise anyway.

Trades I thought value was close, if LA wanted more I would add, but LA fans seemed to think it close or they would even have to add. I don't care about that, I just want Roy. They might have interest in Dermott, might not. Johnsson for a third I figured was close and he'd fit in nicely in NJ's middle 6.

It lacks the major headline making addition but I think is a stronger roster top to bottom and the depth will be the best that Toronto has had in the last 4 years.

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