If Marner gets traded it won't be until after his bonus is paid so any 2024 picks are out of the question. Also don't see Nashville using their last retention slot on another multi year contract.

Zadorov, Montour, and Domi will surely want more term than that

I like this roster better than the other one.

Instead of NSH retaining on Schenn, just pay less for Montour and Zadorov. No reason to pay Montour more than Rielly, something like 6.75-7.5Mx7(6) should get it done. The Leafs should try to limit it to 6.75-7M, and if they can get away with 6-years that would be better. Zadorov is also likely getting too much, something in the 5s should be sufficient on a 5 or 6-year deal. Bertuzzi would also need term (5 to 6 years). I could see the Leafs offer Domi a 7-year deal if that gets the cap hit down to mid-to-low 3s, otherwise, he gets 4 or 5 years probably.

Don't see them sticking Minten on the 4th line, at least not as the C. If he's not good enough for the 3rd line, he's probably not playing im the NHL. Probably need to keep Kampf, get retention on Saros to make it work.

I think they would do this for the defense:

Rielly - Schenn
Zadorov - Montour
Benoit - McCabe / Zadorov - McCabe (when needed if they are better)

I will say that they Leafs might want to take their time a bit with building their defense. So, maybe not committing the big dollars to a guy like Montour, especially since there could be better option next year via trade/ufa. Signing Lindholm instead might be a better option, since that would secure the 2C spot and strengthening the C-depth (wouldn't need Kampf). They could maybe bringing back Edmundson for a 2-years and play the two best of Benoit/Edmundson/Timmins or as the occasion requires.

Bertuzzi - Matthews - Domi
Knies-Lindholm-Nylander
Cowan-Tavares-McMann
Dewar-Holmberg-Carrick

Rielly - Schenn
Zadorov - McCabe
Edmundson - Timmins
Benoit

Not a chance, that 1st isn't even available for Marner. Nobody will be trading for him until after July 1 and his signing bonus is paid. Also, WE ARE NOT TRADING SAROS.

SJ not trading down 10 spots in round 1 to take on 3 leaf cap dumps

Personally I couldn't stomach a dcore that bad again. It's Treliving so I'm assuming based on his past teams that he would look at signing Lindholm. He may look into a 2C trade when the Tavares contract is up, but for now I want to see a higher investment into the backend. The goalie situation has always been pretty dog**** for Toronto, but Saros has a pretty good track record, and with an improved D-Core it could make the Marner for Saros trade look better. I would consider resigning Lily and looking to get Evangeslista instead of Schenn, especially if Brad gets Zadorov.

I'm not sure that Zadorov makes it to FA, but if he does then maybe they pass on Edmundson and do re-sign Liljegren. Supposedly, the Leafs will take a run at Pesce if he becomes a UFA, so, probably Pesce instead of Montour or Lindholm. I would expect a less than optimal D-core though, especially if Marner is getting traded for Saros:

Rielly - Pesce
Benoit - McCabe
Zadorov/Edmundson - Liljegren
Timmins

If he tries to address goaltending with a big name, I think it could be Markstrom over Saros but I guess we'll have to wait and see.