Team: 2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 22, 2021

Published: Jun. 22, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Does it take an elite goalie to win the Cup?

I think this idea was originally from NHL news. Marner for Gibson as a basis for a trade. I'm assuming the value for Gibson is huge. But Marner is an elite play-maker, and younger. I still add two young pieces to get Rakell with retention, and compensate for Marner's contract value. This trade leans in Anaheim's favour, I would say. But this is for the sake of argument.

For UFAs, I bring in players who were somehow rumoured to join the Leafs (Granlund), a Toronto native (Goodrow), or guys that were already there (Bogosian, Foligno, Hutton). Hyman is offered the Toffoli contract, take or leave. Contract values are where they should be.

The trade leaves cap room. The biggest weakness these past two seasons was the third line. The UFA signings address this. And there's enough to sign Dmitrij Jaskin, which would help the 2nd line defensively. (Hope for a Kaprizov scenario as a long shot.) Jaskin is more or less a placeholder.

Is this team stronger or weaker than the 2020-21 edition?

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