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Fixing the Depth and Adding Character

Created by: Ledge_And_Dairy
Team: 2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs
Initial Creation Date: Jun. 1, 2021
Published: Jun. 4, 2021
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
So apparently Hyman turned down a 5M deal, maybe its an issue of term but I'm going to assume he looks elsewhere in this scenario. People by nature are going to blame Matthews and Marner for these playoffs, but even though they were widely considered invisible out there they still tied for 3rd and 5th in team production. To me this means there was a sever lack of depth on the team, or coaching issues. For the sake of simplicity I'm going to do an overhaul on the teams depth

UFA's I think should/will stay:
Spezza - excellent playoffs, great leader and depth player
Bogosain - solid depth guy, worth bringing back imo, provides some needed defensive physicality outside of Muzzin

UFA's I think should/will go:
Andersen - pretty much replaced entirely
Nash - invisible
Simmonds - never lived up to what he was brought in for
Thornton - either retires or signs a 1 year deal with SJ or a true contender like Colorado/Tampa
Galchenyuk - put up some points but so often just didn't look like a fit
Hutton - probably tests free agency
Rittich - probably wants to test free agency


UFA's I am indifferent on:
Hyman - because of the rumour, otherwise he stays
Foligno - injuries plagued him, hard to make a judgement call here
Marincin - plug

Wow that is a lot of UFA's

Shanahan recently said the team lacked "Killer Instinct." Don't confuse that with hard hitting and fighting, it is the drive to win when the games matter.

My UFA signings:
Saad - this guy is just built for the playoffs, just brings that heavy forechecking gritty game and offensive prowess
Cizikas - Leafs fan's go and watch the Islanders series (yes I know Boston is annoying to watch), this guy is a very good defensive center. My 3rd line would be an excellent shutdown line
McGinn - bit of what I said about both Saad and Cizikas, steps up his game in the playoffs, strong defensively, IMO would pair well with Cizikas and Mikheyev
Bernier - cheap 1B goalie, Campbell should be the starter but I don't think you can just bring in a plug to backup, need a 1B that can play 30-35 games
Spezza - refer to above
Bogosian - refer to above
PTO Enforcer - Brett Ritchie like guy, someone who can just go out there every once and a while and protect your stars in heated match ups
Free Agent Signings
UFAYEARSCAP HIT
3$3,000,000
1$750,000
1$750,000
3$2,250,000
4$4,750,000
2$2,000,000
CREATEDYEARSCAP HIT
PTO, Enforcer Guy
1$750,000
Trades
TOR
SEA
  1. Kerfoot, Alexander
Retained Salary Transactions
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2021
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
2022
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
2023
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
22$81,500,000$81,404,783$0$400,000$95,217
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Saad, Brandon
$4,750,000$4,750,000
LW, RW
UFA - 5
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews, Auston
$11,640,250$11,640,250
C
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Marner, Mitchell
$10,903,000$10,903,000
RW
UFA - 4
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Waivers ExemptRobertson, Nicholas
$796,667$796,667
LW, RW
RFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Tavares, John
$11,000,000$11,000,000
C, LW
NMC
UFA - 4
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Nylander, William
$6,962,366$6,962,366
RW
UFA - 3
McGinn, Brock
$2,250,000$2,250,000
LW, RW
UFA - 4
Cizikas, Casey
$3,000,000$3,000,000
C
UFA - 6
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Mikheyev, Ilya
$1,645,000$1,645,000
LW, RW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Engvall, Pierre
$1,250,000$1,250,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Brooks, Adam
$725,000$725,000
C
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Spezza, Jason
$750,000$750,000
C, RW
UFA - 1
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Rielly, Morgan
$5,000,000$5,000,000
LD
NMC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Brodie, TJ
$5,000,000$5,000,000
LD/RD
NTC
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Campbell, Jack
$1,650,000$1,650,000
G
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Muzzin, Jake
$5,625,000$5,625,000
LD
NTC
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Holl, Justin
$2,000,000$2,000,000
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Sandin, Rasmus
$894,167$894,167
LD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Bogosian, Zach
$750,000$750,000
RD
UFA - 3
Bernier, Jonathan
$2,000,000$2,000,000
G
UFA - 2
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
PTO, Enforcer Guy
$750,000$750,000
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Liljegren, Timothy
$863,333$863,333 (Performance Bonus$400,000$400K)
RD
RFA - 1

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Jun. 4, 2021 at 9:54 p.m.
#1
reesedavidson_13
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I saw another tweet today after seeing Hyman declined 5M and it was Hymans agent saying that that wasn't accurate so we still have hope!
Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:00 p.m.
#2
LeafsFanForSomeReason
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The Hyman thing is not accurate. It was one guy who said he heard that rumor and was unsure if it was true. It was quickly debunked by multiple sources.

Still wouldn't be overly shocked to see him elsewhere, just wanted to set the record straight.
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Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:07 p.m.
#3
LGuy54
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I agree with a lot of these signings! Well i agree with all of them, but i'd sign McGinn and Cizikas for a tiny bit less and more for Bogo
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Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:08 p.m.
#4
westcoastleaf
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this is one of the more logical ones i've seen for the leafs, i love the signings but might tweak the lines a bit from what you've got there.

my 2.5 cents:
1. i think our bottom six actually out-played theirs for most of the series, depth isn't necessarily the problem.
2. matthews needs to get awat from marner, their show works in the regular season, but it's a disaster in the playoffs when the checking gets tighter and teams have more time to prepare and game plan for them.
2b:. i think marner could really benefit from a move to the 2nd line, perhaps with JT and cizikas. put engvall with soupy and mcginn, and one of robertson/brooks with spezza and another big body on the 4th.

also, hyman turning down 5mil........ Huh?
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Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:12 p.m.
#5
LGuy54
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Quoting: westcoastleaf
this is one of the more logical ones i've seen for the leafs, i love the signings but might tweak the lines a bit from what you've got there.

my 2.5 cents:
1. i think our bottom six actually out-played theirs for most of the series, depth isn't necessarily the problem.
2. matthews needs to get awat from marner, their show works in the regular season, but it's a disaster in the playoffs when the checking gets tighter and teams have more time to prepare and game plan for them.
2b:. i think marner could really benefit from a move to the 2nd line, perhaps with JT and cizikas. put engvall with soupy and mcginn, and one of robertson/brooks with spezza and another big body on the 4th.

also, hyman turning down 5mil........ Huh?


I agree, it is one of the more logistical one i've seen, and it came from a flames fan
Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:16 p.m.
#6
westcoastleaf
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Quoting: BenjaminWalder
I agree, it is one of the more logistical one i've seen, and it came from a flames fan


i didn't eve notice that tears of joy
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Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:20 p.m.
#7
Ledge_And_Dairy
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Quoting: westcoastleaf
this is one of the more logical ones i've seen for the leafs, i love the signings but might tweak the lines a bit from what you've got there.

my 2.5 cents:
1. i think our bottom six actually out-played theirs for most of the series, depth isn't necessarily the problem.
2. matthews needs to get awat from marner, their show works in the regular season, but it's a disaster in the playoffs when the checking gets tighter and teams have more time to prepare and game plan for them.
2b:. i think marner could really benefit from a move to the 2nd line, perhaps with JT and cizikas. put engvall with soupy and mcginn, and one of robertson/brooks with spezza and another big body on the 4th.

also, hyman turning down 5mil........ Huh?


Some posters above are saying that the Hyman thing was debunked, I thought it was odd too that he would turn down 5M, so maybe just swap him out with Saad I guess?

1. Nah Montreal's depth was definitely better, Anderson was a line of his own. Danault and his lineobviously did their part, Suziki and Caufield looked really strong. Byron, Perry, Evans, Armia, and Toffoli were all solid too.
2. I mentioned at the top that I think it may be a coaching thing, this is 2 years in a row that Toronto has been completely shut down by the Trap. I don't really have issues with Keefe but he's more of a players coach, he kinda just lets them roam free instead of taking command. His answer has been "shorten the bench and stack the first line" twice now, in reality at least this year Marner and Nylander should have swapped lines after game 4, not try to wedge Nylander into a line that clearly has not worked in postseason.
2b. I think these lines are fine for regular season, definitely keep Cizikas at center though
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Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:23 p.m.
#8
Ledge_And_Dairy
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Quoting: LeafsFanForSomeReason
The Hyman thing is not accurate. It was one guy who said he heard that rumor and was unsure if it was true. It was quickly debunked by multiple sources.

Still wouldn't be overly shocked to see him elsewhere, just wanted to set the record straight.


good to know, I was really surprised by it too so makes sense that it was just bad intel
Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:26 p.m.
#9
Ledge_And_Dairy
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Quoting: BenjaminWalder
I agree with a lot of these signings! Well i agree with all of them, but i'd sign McGinn and Cizikas for a tiny bit less and more for Bogo


McGinn is probably right about what he should get, IMO Cizikas should get ~3M but may get less since he was burried under NYI's center depth. I am basing the contract off the Derek Ryan one from a few years ago, similar player and playstyle but more physical
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Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:57 p.m.
#10
LGuy54
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Quoting: Ledge_And_Dairy
McGinn is probably right about what he should get, IMO Cizikas should get ~3M but may get less since he was burried under NYI's center depth. I am basing the contract off the Derek Ryan one from a few years ago, similar player and playstyle but more physical


I have McGinn at $2M, Cizikas $2.95M and Bogo $1M
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Jun. 4, 2021 at 10:58 p.m.
#11
OldNYIfan
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Quoting: Ledge_And_Dairy
McGinn is probably right about what he should get, IMO Cizikas should get ~3M but may get less since he was burried under NYI's center depth. I am basing the contract off the Derek Ryan one from a few years ago, similar player and playstyle but more physical


In my humble opinion, local boy Casey Cizikas should be the Leafs' number one target this off-season.
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Jun. 5, 2021 at 10:19 a.m.
#12
LGuy54
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Quoting: Ledge_And_Dairy
McGinn is probably right about what he should get, IMO Cizikas should get ~3M but may get less since he was burried under NYI's center depth. I am basing the contract off the Derek Ryan one from a few years ago, similar player and playstyle but more physical


I also forgot to mention, Nick Robertson's ELC slid. CapFriendly hasn't updated it, but it is now $793,333x3
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