Team: 2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 18, 2021

Published: Sep. 18, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I think there is a flaw with the Leafs. They are not physical nor are they deep. I want more physical players. They are too top heavy in salary. I would prefer to trade one of the top 4 but this isn't realistic. Nor is my trades realistic this close to camp. I realize that. But this is what I would do. It's not ideal but it's the most realistic in my mind.

I would love to have Boone Jenner as the 3rd line centre but Columbus isn't trading him. Henrique is a better centre that can win faceoffs better than Kerfoot. Henrique is a shooter that can play with a passer like Spezza or Paul. He was on waivers last year so I think Anaheim would move him. It's hard to make the money work so maybe I don't have the right value but I think this is a player they should target. Going to lose Engvall and Brooks on waivers anyways plus needed to add them to Anaheim trade to get rid of salary. Side note: Leafs are screwed in the future with a flat cap.

Paul is physical and an upgrade on Mikeyev on the left side. Impossible to deal within division but I like his hitting and he gets decent amount of points on the 3rd line. This is an unlikely trade but he's a guy I would target.

Hartman, Lemieux, Simmonds are a pain to play against. I think Guerin really likes Hartman in Minnesota but maybe I could pry him loose with the upside of Mikeyev (not sure if he has much but he showed a little in his rookie season). I might be off in value here but I think they're both worth around a 3rd rounder based on what Tyler Pitlick went for to Calgary.

Lemieux went from New York to LA for a 4th rounder and I don't think his value has changed much. Maybe LA really likes him and I have to add another late pick or prospect.

Dermott would be nice to have around in a year when Reilly probably leaves for more money. But he may not be more than a 3rd pairing guy. He's got potential but he hasn't shown much yet. Maybe he's a guy like Hanifan with big tools but hasn't put it together yet and maybe never will. But got to trade something to get something and Florida needs to balance that defence. Gudas isn't the best but hits like a truck and they had interest in him in free agency.

Overall, I'm just trying to add physicality to the team. That will help in the playoffs. The only trade I think that could come back to bite me is the Dermott trade. Overall, maybe the values are slightly off but I think I'm in the ballpark. Because these are all trades for bottom of the lineup players, I think they are all lateral moves for different playing styles. The overall talent and points produced by these players are pretty similar. There is no 4th liners getting traded for 2nd liners and vice versa. I think the talent level has maintained. I like a physical team which you might not like. That's fine. Please let me know if you think my trade values are off or unrealistic because that team really wants to keep that player. Thanks.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.