Team: 2023-24 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 2, 2023

Published: Jul. 2, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I really like the forward group here
I like the Rielly + Brodie pair. I like the McCabe + Klingberg pair. I like the Gio + Lily Pair. The problem with the d group as a whole, is that it isn't very big or physical. McCabe is the only real physical guy here. Rielly is big but he isn't physical. Brodie is a very good defensive dman, but not physical. The group is very good but missing that physical element in it. I am sure Tre is aware of it. It will be hard to fix. Brodie is so good defensively. To get an upgrade over him, who is physical, is very hard to find. Very few of those around. Perhaps we swap Lily for a tougher guy? But he would need to play. Conundrum for sure.

It's looking like we will start with a 20 man roster. We did that (and several other teams) did that last year. I added our immediate depth guys to the taxi squad, simply for viewing purposes. They would be in the AHL (Or get yoinked off waivers).

Overall the team looks good BUT it still blows my mind that they haven't (and maybe won't) trade one of our top 4 forwards. There is still time, but it would be interesting if this is how they started the year.

I REALLY like the Bert and Domi adds. I am luke warm on the Klingberg add (I really like him but I thought that cap was better spent on adding a physical, defensive guy) but I do see the value in Klingberg. I dislike the Reaves signing. 1.35m x 3 years is nuts. Under 1m a year for 2 years would have been fine. I also love the Kampf signing. He was the top guy I wanted back from our UFA group, he provides so much value for the bottom 6. Even though he is slotted as 4C here, he will still get over 14 minutes a game. He is a gem. Schenn was a close second.

Thoughts?