Making the team worse so we can protect a 3rd string goalie and have an AHL player in the press box seems like poor cap management

They are over the cap regardless without doing a trade, unless they run a 20-man roster and risk losing both Timmins and Jones to waivers.

Or go 11/7 lose no one and once someone gets injured, which always happens, they'll be fine.

Relying on potential injuries is the most Leafs thing to do, I agree with that much

It's not relying on injuries. If they don't happen, then what's the problem? If they do, which they will, there isn't a problem either. That's what makes this all so funny to hear discussed. Your guys arguments are so empty. The Leafs can't run a 20 man roster because what happens when someone gets hurt? Well they call up an emergency injury replacement and spares if someone goes on LTIR.

"So you are relying on injuries? What if they don't come?"

Well that would be the luckiest team ever and once again, if they don't have any injuries at all, what's the problem with a 20 man roster?

It's inconventional to say the least. No healthy scratches at all, risks of having to run undermanned roster is always present, no room at all to move players between NHL and AHL without taking waiver risk etc. It does help them that they have an AHL affiliate on very close proximity, so they can get emergency loans on short notice though - plenty of other teams do not have that privilege.

You can run a 20-man roster if necessary, but it's far from the best case scenario.

It's the scenario they ran with for most of last season. It does result in risk for sure and you may play a game or two short handed but then you get emergency call ups.