Team: 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 5, 2022

Published: Apr. 5, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Although a lot of individuals (including myself) really despise the Leafs, the success this team has faced this season, in particular, has been nothing short of great. And it's going to be vital to this teams success to build off this into next year.

First off, Knies would have likely played NHL games by the time the 2022/23 season takes off, so we'll get his contract out of the way

Now onto the first trade where we go to New Jersey and acquire goalie MacKenzie Blackwood. Ontario native Blackwood was off to a rough start this year with his vaccination status which created a definite rift between the team and himself. As well as injury issues, Blackwood would likely be looking for a new place to call home. In addition the leafs acquire yet another defender in Damon Severson, who has 1 year left on his deal which the Devils can retain at 50%. The leafs do send over quite some value and here is why I think it would be a fair deal. Rodion Amirov I felt uncomfortable including in the deal with his cancer diagnosis and obviously who knows what will happen by the summer. But the devils do have his teammate on his KHL team Ufa Salavat Yulaev in Shakir Mukhamadulin. So Amirov was likely scouted out by the Devils scouts and both of them could enter north America together to likely play with the Utica Comets. Justin Holl goes back as a cap dump essentially. Ian Scott is a super unfortunate tale, a goalie who can not stay healthy. And moving to the Devils could be looked at his final chance to stay healthy and play a full season, likely signing up a 1 year deal. Also the Leafs include their first here. They are getting tons of value from Jersey anyways, a young ontarian goalie with RFA protection and a very solid Top 4 RHD.

Next trade here is a simple 1 for 1 between Alexander Kerfoot and Sean Monahan. The last 3-4 seasons in Calgary have been disastrous for Monahan in the injury sense. He currently is under going hip replacement surgery for the 2nd season in a row. In this deal the Flames don't get away from Monahan's cap hit (as they retain enough to match the 6,375,000) but get a less injury riddled player, potentially more of a Sutter style player in Kerfoot. Monahan evidently didn't fit Sutter's style and with how Treliving went and revitalized the Flames this offseason to make them a 100% Sutter style team, I can see them doing a move like this. As for the Leafs, they can and likely will start Monahan on LTIR. And like they're famous with doing can fiddle with the cap throughout the season.

Next trade which is a bad contract swap here as the leafs swap goalie Petr Mrazek for defencemen Philippe Myers. Myers was an undrafted highly touted prospect out of Philly, and when traded to Nashville did not connect with coaches and since got sent to the AHL. When sent to the AHL he actually got loaned over to the Toronto Marlies which has me believe Maple Leafs management sees something in him. Obviously I would consider Myers more value than Mrazek so Nashville takes back Vladislav Kara, an unsigned russian prospect who's been playing in the KHL last few years. And as the Predators ride Saros as their next franchise goalie, bringing in a veteran like Mrazek in a pure backup role isn't a bad idea. Myers would likely start back in the AHL but will almost certainly see NHL time.

Onto the resign phase, you simply bring back all your important RFAs. Liljegren and Sandin get identical 2 year deals. Kase gets a 2 x 2. Engvall as well gets a slight raise. Krys & rubins gets upped for 1 more year at league minimum to play in the AHL. Onto your expiring UFA's, I think you try and bring back Campbell. Although he had a sharp decline after the all star game. You can easily re up him for 1 year at 2 million, then next season when both Blackwood & Campbell are up once again, thats when you decide which one of the two you run with. Since Campbell & Blackwood both have a history with injuries, it's smart to ride both this season. As quoted by Dubas "we've been trying to sign Blackwell past couple of free agencies" they succeed this time. Bringing back Blackwell for 1 year making just above league minimum. As for Spezza I believe he does come back on his famous league minimum deal, but I think Giordano also joins him. The Leafs are Giordano's hometown team and even if he's an extra defencemen most nights, if he's willing to resign at league minimum you take that option.

Onto free agents. The leafs sign up goalie Malcolm Subban to play in their system. While likely one of Kallgren or Woll would get called up in case of injury, Subban can hold it down in the Marlies. The leafs sign a likely unsigned RFA in Michael Dal Colle. Sam Gagner as well is a perfect 13/14th forward or a veteran piece to play in the Marlies. Him, Dal Colle & Clifford even can take turns going up and down playing games with both the Leafs & Marlies this season.

With a fully healthy lineup the leafs only have 1.1 in cap space meaning a Monahan LTIR activation would come in place of another player going down with injury. That is a big if they even want Monahan playing, he could not be the same hockey player remotely after his second surgery (think Ben Bishop). Go easy on me Leafs fans

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