Team: 2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 4, 2021

Published: Jul. 4, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This would be my dream lineup for the leafs next year as it has a lot more flexibility than last years lineup. If Keefe felt the need for a shutdown line mid game he could put Hyman, Acciari, and mikheyev on one line and still have the other three lines produce.
As much as I love Morgan Rielly I believe that Sandin has the ability to fill the void on the top pair which makes Mo an intriguing trade chip, I decided that Jt Miller was the best option to get as Vancouver needs defence, mo is from BC, and both players contracts are expiring relatively soon. Brayden Scheen and Richard Rakell would also be a great return for Rielly, however I don’t know how realistic.
Kerfoot and Engvall got traded to LA for picks, I didn’t really put much thought into this, LA needs players, they got picks to give, why not?
Noel Acciari is a player I really want the leafs to get, he’s plays on the penalty kill, has great defensive numbers, and scored 20 goals in a season not too long ago. Florida might be willing to give him up for picks as he might get claimed by Seattle in the expansion draft. Other options for third line C would be Teddy Blueger or Barclay Goodrow.
Jaden Schwartz is another player I want the leafs to get, he’s coming off of an off year and could probably be gotten for cheap, he also has experience winning the Stanley Cup. If Keefe ever wanted to spread the offence he could send Hyman down to the third line and put Schwartz in his place.
Jani hakanpaa is a defensive defenseman who I see as a Zach Bogosian replacement who could add some value on the third pair for cheap. Mike Reilly would also be a great option for the third pair but I doubt the leafs could afford him. I also wouldn’t mind Dermott back but I assume he gets picked by Seattle. Vladislav Garikov would also be a nice fit but I doubt Columbus gives him up.
This team also leaves the leafs with about 2 million in cap space, maybe the leafs could upgrade over Justin Holl by acquiring a 4 million dollar defensemen, however I don’t know who that would be, maybeErik Cernak? Or Maybe the money could be better allocated to an upgrade over Dave Rittich.

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