Team: 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 6, 2023

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Yes, yes... it requires an actual injury that justifies it, etc. but given his injury history and that he has been on IR twice this year already, I think they can likely swing it.

This would allow the Leafs to:

1. Open up 4.69M (less the cost of a new backup) in cap space for deadline moves
2. Gives them an opportunity to test out Woll at the NHL level for more than a few games ahead of the deadline
3. Get more insight into Samsonov as the starter for the future (needs a new contract this off season)
4. Rest Murray and hopefully have him as healthy as possible to come off LTIR when the playoffs start to backup (since cap isn't counted in the playoffs)
5. They can then move Murray in the off season if needed or buy him out at $687,500 in 23/24, $2,000,000 in 24/25 - not ideal as that reduces their cap by 2M in the year of 34 and 88's new deals, but they could trade him with a sweetener to a a team who could then buy him out if desired.

Trades are just one example of how the added money could be used to improve the line-up. Players could be anyone, this is just an example of an upgrade on LW, 3C, Top-4 D that could be created with Murray's cap. I just did quick (not well thought out trades) for the example. Pick your poison on available players (within the cap) and their values.

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