Team: 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 19, 2022

Published: Jul. 20, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Rationale:

1st trade-

Justin Holl played for Seattle Kraken Head Coach Dave Haskstol and had his best season under his guidance(2nd pairing with Jake Muzzin for duration of 2020-2021 season). Toronto also went to great lengths (traded for Jared McCann) in the Expansion Draft to protect Justin Holl and Alex Kerfoot from Seattle knowing that one would be taken. Seattle Kraken also would be adding a decent 2nd or 3rd line RHD with middling underlying numbers in a 6”3 210+ frame and PK experience. He would slot in as Seattles 3rd RHD and 2nd PK duty, replacing Willam Borgen and his partner would be Jamie Oleksiak forming a big, solid 2nd line pairing in Seattle, one that Dave Hakstol would enjoy.

Toronto obviously gets out of cap purgatory by trading $2 million and frees up a roster spot for Ramus Sandin while adding picks to a depleted prospect pool.

Jamie Benn rounds out the defence and Wayne Simmonds and Kyle Clifford and Nick Robertson slot in and out of the lineup jumping from the Marlies to the Leafs. Nobody is claiming Clifford or Simmonds as both would retire instantly and Toronto can simply place Adam Gaudette on waivers (he passed through last season) to call up Nick Robertson or Pontus Holmberg or other stand out Marlies.

2nd trade:

Nashville has no intention of tearing down or rebuilding. They see themselves as a potential playoff team and will want to add strong players to get there. Alex Kerfoot is a dependable and highly deployable player throughout the lineup. I highly suspect he would replace the LW Tanner Jeannoton on the 3rd line with Colton Sissons which would form a pretty solid shutdown line for John Hynes to utilize.

Toronto would benefit from additional cap space and picks to replenish a thinning prospect pool and it’s also exactly what Ottawa got for Connor Brown who is comparable in cap hit and production.


1st signing:

Ramus Sandin has a high upside and if Toronto can lock him down with the guarantee of a roster spot and strong ongoing role along with more money for the extra two years, they should.

2nd signing:

Evan Rodrigues had a career year last season but most teams across the league are cap strapped and most line ups are set. He seems like the perfect fit for Toronto at a discount and Dubas has already traded for him once before (Kasperi Kapanen trade). The allure of playing with JT and Nylander in Toronto could be the bet on yourself move for Rodrigues.

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