Team: 2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 21, 2021

Published: Jun. 21, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The theme here is to acquire some players who are good at transitioning the puck to the offensive zone (we missed Kapanen huge in this area last year). This will help the Leafs balance the offensive contributions (and maybe even create more favourable offensive zone starts for their big forwards) especially come playoff time when rush offence disappears. It will also help them on the powerplay, since they were awful at zone entries and offensive zone movement on the PP.

Nylander can be used at 3C at 5-on-5 to help with this balancing of the offence, but you can slid him up the lineup to play with Matthews in offensive zone situations, coming off of a PK, late in the game, etc. Just slid Mikheyev down and Engvall can centre that line if necessary.

I toyed with trading Rielly but I see no reason to rush a deal just because he is going to be a UFA. The Leafs probably won't resign him but his value to them in the upcoming season may not be equal to what you get in return. Dermott and Liljegren split playing time, with hopefully Liljegren proving he is better and taking that spot during the season. If not, you have an option. If you trade Rielly you probably should bring back Bogosian.

Schwartz and Johansson are two great UFA targets. Schwartz may get a bigger contract but it's hard to tell. He's a 50-60 point winger so this seemed close anyway? Both excel in zone entries and will give the Leafs some more dynamic options for zone entry. Schwartz can support Matthews in this way while providing more of a shooting threat then Marner has. Mikheyev can play a Hyman-type role on this line by supporting play down low and on the occasions they bring Nylander up it's a dangerous combination. Johansson, Tavares, Marner has lots of offence and should be able to feast on middle-6 competition, with the third line being variable but with Robertson, Nylander, Hinostroza should be able to provide some offence. If Robertson is not ready for that duty Engvall can play up there although his offence is limited.

D plays pretty much the same as last year, with the hope Sandin can show some growth and make losing Rielly easier to stomach. Raanta I think is a great bounce back option who may sign with Toronto for slightly less because they will guarantee him starts in a tandem instead of being a backup.

I don't think loading up on physical/defensive minded players is going to help the Leafs, since that failed last year. They need to find ways to manufacture offence when it's harder in the playoffs and that doesn't mean making big hits, it means keeping the puck and staying on the attack. These players will help them do that. I also admit that a mix of skillsets is probably valuable, so you may see a player like Granlund instead of Johansson, which balances things even more.

Semyonov and Liljegren are waivers exempt, meaning they can be papered down on off-days to help accrue cap space.