Team: 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 8, 2023

Published: Feb. 8, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Let's look at some double retention fun today.

Keep in mind that when dealing with pending UFAs retention isn't going to cost a team as much as it would for players with multiple years remaining on their contract. Unused retention slots become useless after the deadline until the following season, so leveraging them is an opportunity for the team retaining to incentivize a trade, increase value (slightly), and increase the number of potential trade partners for high cap hit players.

Also keep in mind that in terms of actual dollar cost for retention/double retention the cap hit is often less important than the actual salary remaining (excluding bonuses, which have already been paid at this point) for both the first and second retaining team.

As an example, pending UFA Johnathan Toews has a 10.5M cap hit, however this final year of his contract consisted of a 4 million dollar signing bonus (already paid) and then 2.9M in actual salary. At the TDL (61 of 82 games played), he will have been paid roughly 2.15M of that remaining 2.9M, leaving only ~750K of actual salary remaining. This means that if Chicago retains 50%, it only costs them the retention spot + ~375K in real dollars while bringing his cap hit down to 5.25M. If Chicago moves him to another team for additional 50% retention as a broker in the deal, CHI still pays ~375K, the retaining broker team pays ~187.5K (and retains 2.625M in cap space) and the final acquiring team pays ~187.5K (with a cap hit for Toews of 2.625M).

With this in mind, you are only paying the broker team assets to cover ~187.5K in salary costs + use of their retention slot. This is not an obscene ask, especially for a team that might be offloading assets already with unused retention slots who is still attempting to reach the cap floor without paying full salary (think rebuilding cash strapped teams such as ARZ, ANA, CLB as well as retooling teams that aren't necessarily cash strapped but near the floor or offloading high priced players such as CHI, DET, OTT, SJ.

Unfortunately Armchair GM doesn't handle double retention trades yet, but here is just one example from the Leafs' perspective.


Notes:
- I know STL fans think they will get a 1st+ for O'Reilly based on reputation, but given performance and injury I think this type of return (2nd + 3rd + B prospect) is more likely.
- I also know that acquiring two veteran players with declining numbers that have been battling injuries is not necessarily ideal. (This is just an example of double retention lowering costs, not necessarily what I think is best.)
- I also know that ARZ fans think any Chychrun deal with Toronto needs to include their hometown boy Matthew Knies, but I don't think Kyle moves him. Including Sandin gives them a 22 year old immediate NHL-level replacement at a lower cost with potential to grow in an elevated role under team control.
- I also know that Knies may not be NHL ready this year, let alone ready for 3rd line minutes in the playoffs, however given that he is 20, man-sized, and doing great in the NCAA, I like the idea of pairing him with O'Reilly to give him some playoff pedigree to lean on on the 3rd line.
- This lineup has great C depth that should win most face-off battles in the playoffs. It also has the potential to spread out scoring more over 3 lines if needed by pairing one of Nylander, Marner, or Kane with O'Reilly to match match-ups a nightmare, especially for 3rd pairing D


Have a good one everyone!

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