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leafs dont have cap issues

Created by: frgsn
Team: 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs
Initial Creation Date: Apr. 21, 2022
Published: Apr. 21, 2022
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
Leafs come back with a further optimized version of this year's roster, with added cap flexibility.


trade returns don't matter (i picked vegas at random), just need to move muzz and holl for assets in the offseason (they both have positive value)

stolarz could be the guy or could be another guy for cheapish, not sure who else.

sandin and lilly contracts shouldn't combine for more than 3m, their caphits in this example don't really matter; they both will likely end up with something around this level.

mikky is re-signable, hopefully for less than 4.5m. engvall hopefully wont get more than 2m. he could take a shorter "prove it" contract. i did 2 years in this example.

kase may want to stay on with the leafs due to comfort and the team's medical abilities. if this is the case, he won't get more than this years caphit. could use his caphit with cliffords caphit to get a different winger if necessary.

Dahlstrom is a stand-in for 7d. hopefully kyle can identify an underrated/unproven cheap 6/7 d in the offseason
Free Agent Signings
RFAYEARSCAP HIT
2$1,600,000
3$1,500,000
2$1,200,000
1$1,100,000
UFAYEARSCAP HIT
1$750,000
2$2,000,000
4$3,800,000
4$1,600,000
6$4,300,000
Trades
1.
TOR
  1. 2022 3rd round pick (NYR)
2.
Buyouts
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2022
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the WPG
Logo of the NYR
Logo of the TOR
2023
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
2024
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
23$82,500,000$82,210,616$212,500$0$289,384
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$950,000$950,000
LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$11,640,250$11,640,250
C
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$10,903,000$10,903,000
RW
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$4,300,000$4,300,000
LW, RW
UFA - 4
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$11,000,000$11,000,000
C, LW
NMC
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,100,000$1,100,000
RW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,600,000$1,600,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$3,500,000$3,500,000
LW, C, RW
M-NTC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$6,962,366$6,962,366
RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$796,667$796,667
LW, RW
RFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,500,000$1,500,000
C
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$750,000$750,000
C, RW
UFA
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$762,500$762,500
LW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$900,000$900,000
RW, LW
M-NTC
UFA - 1
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$7,500,000$7,500,000
LD
NMC
UFA - 8
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$5,000,000$5,000,000
LD/RD
NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$2,000,000$2,000,000
LD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,500,000$1,500,000
RD
RFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,200,000$1,200,000
LD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,600,000$1,600,000
RD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$3,800,000$3,800,000
G
UFA - 5
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$750,000$750,000
LD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Anaheim Ducks
$950,000$950,000
G
UFA - 1

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Apr. 21, 2022 at 11:43 a.m.
#1
Leafs Sufferer
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Well, they kind of do have cap troubles. But they aren't as damning as other fan bases would like it to be.

- You're going to be hard pressed to find a trade partner for Muzz, especially with his full NMC. There's a 99.9999% chance (in my opinion) he's back with TOR next season. Which is fine.
- You might be able to get that for Holl, I agree the team doesn't necessarily matter in this scenario.
- You've paid Campbell too little here, and Mik too much.
- Liljegren and Sandin look fine, give or take a few hundred thousand for each.
- Someone else will give Boosh a little more than this. This offseason will be his best chance for his biggest payday.
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Apr. 21, 2022 at 11:48 a.m.
#2
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You make moving an expensive, aging, injury prone guy with a full NTC sound easy, though I agree that he does have value.

This is certainly not what I'd call "more cap flexibility though". Lyubushkin, Campbell, Liljegren, Engvall and Sandin are all getting less than they deserve. If teams like messing with the Leafs as much as Leafs fans think they do, then Liljegren/Sandin offersheets would be hella fun.

I really think dumping Mrázek is worth it. Can't see it costing more than a 2nd rounder (or equivalent to).
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Apr. 21, 2022 at 11:48 a.m.
#3
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Quoting: Ritzy
Well, they kind of do have cap troubles. But they aren't as damning as other fan bases would like it to be.

- You're going to be hard pressed to find a trade partner for Muzz, especially with his full NMC. There's a 99.9999% chance (in my opinion) he's back with TOR next season. Which is fine.
- You might be able to get that for Holl, I agree the team doesn't necessarily matter in this scenario.
- You've paid Campbell too little here, and Mik too much.
- Liljegren and Sandin look fine, give or take a few hundred thousand for each.
- Someone else will give Boosh a little more than this. This offseason will be his best chance for his biggest payday.


Your pretty much spot on other than the fact that if we want to bring back Mickey we will have to pay in the 4.5 mill range.
Apr. 21, 2022 at 11:48 a.m.
#4
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“Leafs have no cap issues”

Ah yes simply dump 2 defensemen who have full NTC’s without giving up assets, buy out your biggest free agent signing last year, heavily lowball your RFA’s Liljegren, sandin, and engval, and play 40 year old Mark Giordano in your top 4 at a home town discount (that last one is the most realistic but still not a great sign)
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Apr. 21, 2022 at 11:50 a.m.
#5
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Quoting: MapleLeafsPhanatic
Your pretty much spot on other than the fact that if we want to bring back Mickey we will have to pay in the 4.5 mill range.


I should have been a little more clear for Mik. It's not that I think he's not worth that much, or that someone wouldn't pay it. TOR simply can't pay him that, as much as I'd like to keep him around.
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Apr. 21, 2022 at 11:53 a.m.
#6
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More fantasy to think Muzzin is going to waive his NTC to a non playoff team and that any team wants the current edition of 5.6m Muzzin.
Yeah the Leaf have cap issues.
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Apr. 21, 2022 at 11:53 a.m.
#7
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If Stolarz is going to be dealt it will be for futures/younger players not a 33 year old
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Apr. 21, 2022 at 12:02 p.m.
#8
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Jake Muzzin doesn't fit our window, or our salary structure.
Apr. 21, 2022 at 12:07 p.m.
#9
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Quoting: The_Rocket
“Leafs have no cap issues”

Ah yes simply dump 2 defensemen who have full NTC’s without giving up assets, buy out your biggest free agent signing last year, heavily lowball your RFA’s Liljegren, sandin, and engval, and play 40 year old Mark Giordano in your top 4 at a home town discount (that last one is the most realistic but still not a great sign)


Sucks to buyout Mrazek but it will likely be necessary, not sure why you take issue with this.

Leafs have never had issues making difficult trades. So while everyone is saying Muzz won't be traded, I expect Dubas will be able to prove them wrong. Especially since Muzz is still a valuable top4 dman. Players with NMCs will often waive when their teams ask their permission. And the leafs don't need to win the trade; even if they get nothing in return, it will open up the space that they need.

Similar with Holl. He's is still a good player (not a negative asset at all) and only has a 10 team NTC. Leafs don't need to necessarily win the trade, just open up space.

RFAs almost always get underpaid on their first contract, so i expect the same will happen with Lilly and Sandin.

Engvall was almost on waivers in the first part of the season. While he has certainly found his spot in the lineup in the last half of the season, he isn't some rocketship about to take off. I doubt he gets over 2m unless the Leafs lock him up longterm, in which case it will be worth it.
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Apr. 21, 2022 at 12:08 p.m.
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Quoting: GeneralLandro
If Stolarz is going to be dealt it will be for futures/younger players not a 33 year old


Makes sense. Also would be worth it for the Leafs to put together a package of assets to get him. I just made this trade to represent Muzzin going somewhere and Stolarz coming to the Leafs for an asset that's not on the roster I posted.
Apr. 21, 2022 at 12:11 p.m.
#11
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Quoting: Ritzy
Well, they kind of do have cap troubles. But they aren't as damning as other fan bases would like it to be.

- You're going to be hard pressed to find a trade partner for Muzz, especially with his full NMC. There's a 99.9999% chance (in my opinion) he's back with TOR next season. Which is fine.
- You might be able to get that for Holl, I agree the team doesn't necessarily matter in this scenario.
- You've paid Campbell too little here, and Mik too much.
- Liljegren and Sandin look fine, give or take a few hundred thousand for each.
- Someone else will give Boosh a little more than this. This offseason will be his best chance for his biggest payday.




I think Campbell will take a haircut for term. Anything more than 2 years for him is a big risk, so giving him 4 years will bring the caphit down. Maybe he does get to 4m or more but all the uncertainty in his game and Dubas' mistake with Mrazek will certainly impact Campbells next contract.
Apr. 21, 2022 at 12:33 p.m.
#12
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Quoting: frgsn
Sucks to buyout Mrazek but it will likely be necessary, not sure why you take issue with this.

Leafs have never had issues making difficult trades. So while everyone is saying Muzz won't be traded, I expect Dubas will be able to prove them wrong. Especially since Muzz is still a valuable top4 dman. Players with NMCs will often waive when their teams ask their permission. And the leafs don't need to win the trade; even if they get nothing in return, it will open up the space that they need.

Similar with Holl. He's is still a good player (not a negative asset at all) and only has a 10 team NTC. Leafs don't need to necessarily win the trade, just open up space.

RFAs almost always get underpaid on their first contract, so i expect the same will happen with Lilly and Sandin.

Engvall was almost on waivers in the first part of the season. While he has certainly found his spot in the lineup in the last half of the season, he isn't some rocketship about to take off. I doubt he gets over 2m unless the Leafs lock him up longterm, in which case it will be worth it.


I think they will find some trade partners to dump some cap and a mrazak buyout is the obvious thing to do, but simply having to do those things is indicative of a cap problem.

As for the RFA’s, Engval has scored at over 30 points per 82 games over the past 2 seasons (his current bridge contract) while being 10th on the team in forward ice time. He has arbitration rights this year. I think getting for under $2 million will be tough. Arbitrators rate things like points per game and special teams usage really highly (Engvall 4th among leafs forwards in total PK time and 6th in PK time per game).

For liljegren, over a 30 point pace as a defenseman with sparkling underlying numbers and also started taking on PK duties (over 1 minute per game). He is one year away from being arbitration eligible and if he was arb eligible this year, he’d have a great case for a big pay day. Maybe you can get him on a 1 year deal under $2 million but 3 years at 1.5 is laughable.

Sandin was the 2nd most used PP defender before the addition of Giordano, and also has scored relatively well and has great underlying numbers. I don’t think he is worth as much as liljegren but if you’re getting him for 1.2 it’s only for one year
Apr. 21, 2022 at 1:03 p.m.
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Quoting: The_Rocket
I think they will find some trade partners to dump some cap and a mrazak buyout is the obvious thing to do, but simply having to do those things is indicative of a cap problem.

As for the RFA’s, Engval has scored at over 30 points per 82 games over the past 2 seasons (his current bridge contract) while being 10th on the team in forward ice time. He has arbitration rights this year. I think getting for under $2 million will be tough. Arbitrators rate things like points per game and special teams usage really highly (Engvall 4th among leafs forwards in total PK time and 6th in PK time per game).

For liljegren, over a 30 point pace as a defenseman with sparkling underlying numbers and also started taking on PK duties (over 1 minute per game). He is one year away from being arbitration eligible and if he was arb eligible this year, he’d have a great case for a big pay day. Maybe you can get him on a 1 year deal under $2 million but 3 years at 1.5 is laughable.

Sandin was the 2nd most used PP defender before the addition of Giordano, and also has scored relatively well and has great underlying numbers. I don’t think he is worth as much as liljegren but if you’re getting him for 1.2 it’s only for one year



I think a team only has cap issues when they are stuck and can't make any moves. Most teams build a team to the cap and then need to make changes in the offseason. This is the situation the Leafs are in. It doesn't categorically mean they have cap issues. If Holl and Muzzin were both deadweight, then maybe the Leafs could find themselves stuck, or having to give up a lot of assets to move those guys, but that's not the situation they're in. Only sticking point is Muzzin's NMC and we've seen lots of players waive some control once the team no longer wants them. But yeah it's certainly possible Muzzin says no dice, and that's that. Guess I'm just choosing to believe a deal can get done because he's still a very good player and Dubas has done it before.

Engvall has a lot going for him but I think the fact the he didn't really have a spot in the lineup to start the year and he's still only playing on the "3rd" line, will keep his caphit a bit lower.

There's been no stability in the Leafs D core this year, which will work to the Dubas's advantage in negotiation with Sandin and Liljegren. 3 years may be a bit hopeful on my part but up until the last couple games he's been surrounded by doubt and criticism. Throughout his time in the Leafs org (including this year), everyone has been asking when he'll graduate to the next level and he's only really shown it since playing with Gio. I think he get's a deal similar to Dermott.
Like I said in my original post, Sandin and Liljegren probably only combine for 3m, which will work with the Leafs' cap structure. The 1 v 2 v 3 years will come down to negotiation and I think there's enough doubt for Dubas to have a little wiggle room there to lock them up for an extra year in this price range.
Apr. 21, 2022 at 1:48 p.m.
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A lot of these contracts are pretty optimistic imo - Lyubushkin, Sandin, Liljegren, Kase, Giordano, and Engvall are all being paid below market value. Its possible they all take discounts but I wouldnt bet on it
 
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