Team: 2023-24 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 29, 2023

Published: Jan. 29, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This is a mock up of what the Leafs could look like at the start of next year should they first acquire Meier from the Sharks this season and resign him as an RFA. I have increased the salary cap by 1 million as it’s the minimum expected increase expected for next year.

This would be a huge addition to the team offensively and cause some tough decisions to be made.

Jake Muzzin would have to be kept off the team on LTIR in order for this to work but my opinion is he’s likely played his last game in the NHL unfortunately so he will stay on LTIR until the end of next year when his contract expires.

I have Timo Meier resigning for 8 years at 8.5 million. Current reports are that he’s asking for 9 million a year so resigning for 8.5 million isn’t that far of a stretch. Based on the left over cap space we could go as high as 8.7 million but I think 8.5 million would be enough for him to agree to sign. The leafs are a well run franchise and are primed to be competitive for the foreseeable future. (Yes Mathews will resign the following year).

Next we must resign our current players we wish to keep. I have Mathew Knies signed to a 3 year ELC for 950000 he’s shown to be a great prospect and has shown great skill to the point he may be able to start the year in the NHL next year. If he needs more time to develop he can be switched out with Nick Robinson who I have starting in the AHL as he can still be moved up and down without waivers.

Next I have Joey Anderson, Connor Timmins, and Pontus Holmberg all signed to two year deals for the league minimum of 775000. They are all RFA and have shown they can play at the NHL level. I have to sign them to a cheap deal in order to make the space for them but as none of them have a long track record in the NHL I don’t see them as able to demand much more money.

Next I’m signing Ilya Samsonov for 4 years at 3.8 million. That’s a huge raise for him as he currently makes 1.8 million and he’s shown to be a good goalie in the league. At his age too he’s young enough that he could still get better.

Off the list on UFA players we have I’m letting four guys walk in order to free up some cap space. Alex Kerfoot, Pierre Engvall, Wayne Simmonds, and Justin Holl won’t return. Money is the main reason for this but another solid reason would be the lower part of the roster needs to develop and space needs to be made for some younger players who could take a step forward. I am going to resign David Kampf for 2750000 for 5 years I’m not sure if he would accept such a long deal but I would try as he is such a good defensive player and fits into the line up as a shut down guy so well.

Micheal Bunting is my next player to resign he has played far better than anyone could have dreamed. I’m also giving him 2750000 but I’m giving him 8 years. The reason for the max term is based on the reports that he could be had for a lesser AAV if given term. Now I want to say that should Kampf require more money to resign I would prioritize him over Bunting so long as it’s a reasonable amount of money he’s asking for. I would be ok letting Bunting walk if push comes to shove but what other team will play him next to the skilled guys the Leafs do? That maybe a solid point to keep him on the team.

Zach Aston-Reese and Jordie Benn would both be resigned as depth or bottom line players. I picked them as they I think have been ok in those roles this year and would be cheap to bring back. If they don’t want the league minimum deal then let them walk and we can find other players to replace them at that price.

The deal I signed Samsonov to is a massive pay raise for him and it would make the current goalie tandem of him and Matt Murray to expensive to afford. I’m trading Murray to the Vancouver Canucks. I don’t know if I can even do this with his partial no trade clause but if I can I am. Murray has shown he can be a capable NHL goalie still and the current rumour is the canucks may trade Thatcher Demko. If he is traded they will need someone to play next year and Murray can be that guy. Unlike when we acquired him from Ottawa Murray has value. I’m not looking for a huge return but something. Also the Canucks paid a third round pick for Travis Dermott last year they will pay a third for Murray.

I now need a back up goalie. I signed Alex Nedeljkovic to a league minimum deal. Nedeljkovic has NHL experience and is in need of bouncing back to his form he had in Carolina. I’m betting that part of his poor play in Detroit is because he was on a rebuilding Red Wings team so hopefully he can bounce back. I’m not handing the back up goalie job to him though. Day one of training camp I’m sitting Nedeljkovic, Joesph Woll, and Erik Kallgren down and telling them the three of them are competing for a job in the NHL and starting on level ground so they must all work hard to impress. Whoever does the best in camp wins the job. Simple as that.

This season has been taxing on our defensive depth with all the injuries. I already resigned Benn but I want a right side stay at home type defenceman to replace Holl. Joshua Brown is a huge defender playing for Arizona he’s on a cheap deal that we can fit into our cap. He plays a good defensive game with little offence but I don’t care if he never gets a point on offence we have other guys who can do that for us. I have Brown listed as an extra on the depth chart but he Benn, and Timmins would be challenged to compete for ice time with each other.

This roster just barely fits under the cap but I think it would be a very interesting and competitive team to watch. Adding both Meier and Knies, two guys who can play a skilled physical game would give the Leafs a new element to their style of play. I’m hoping for Timothy Liljegren and Rasmussen Sandin can take a step forward. They showed great abilities to take on a larger role this season when needed plus both will be in contract years so it could be a great opportunity if they want to get paid. Going into the year forward depth may be our weakness. That’s something that can be addressed at the trade deadline if needed.

An interesting part of this roster could be the power play. With the addition of Meier who would be on PP1? They could try the 5 forward power play and go with Mathews Marner, Meier, Tavares, Nylander. All 5 of these guys have the skill to score so who would the opponent have to focus on? If the my choose to do the 4 forward and 1 defender power play who do you move to PP2? Say you keep the current 5 players on PP1 and have Meier play on PP2. You could have Meier, knies, Holmberg, Bunting and Sandin as your PP2 it may need time to develop but that’s two waves that could be a serious threat to score.

The Backup goalie may be another weakness but goalies can also be Voodoo and until they hit the ice you don’t know how it will work. If the first one doesn’t play well we have two other guys to try until one sticks. I think we need about 35 games from goalies not named Samsonov to ensure he is rested and healthy for the playoffs but it should be doable.

If all else fails we should be able to put score our problems lol.

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