The Leafs “Cap Hell” narrative dies in the summer of 2023

The Leafs “Cap Hell” narrative dies in the summer of 2023

It seems weird to be looking ahead to the offseason and not immediately be freaking out about Toronto’s cap situation. It’s a luxury we haven’t had in a while. The big four are signed for one more year anyway, the Leafs blueline comes in on an absolute bargain, and the Leafs will likely have some worthwhile entry level contracts taking up spots on the roster as well giving Toronto the opportunity to dress players that are far exceeding their contracts. It’s a rosy picture and that’s even before you get to the McCabe and Giordano cap hits.
As much as it may fall into the situation of being way too early to do this, it also feels like with the trade deadline behind us it now gives us a first look at who are the players that are going to need to be re-signed and opens the debate about what pending free agents could be returning or not.
Let’s start with what the signed roster looks like:

When it comes to the defense, the Leafs are pretty close to being ready to go. There needs to be some consideration given to a seventh defenseman, and I’m sure the Leafs would love it to be Luke Schenn depending on how he looks over the next month and what his next deal would cost them. Justin Holl has likely been priced out of Toronto and I’m not sure that is going to bother a lot of people other than maybe Sheldon Keefe. He has been good at times, but decidedly not at others. It seems like Schenn as the typical tough bottom six option splitting time with Timmins is the way the Leafs would enter the season.
The biggest question mark is probably what becomes of Jake Muzzin, who in all likelihood is destined for a year on the LTIR before his contract expires, but if that’s not the case, he’s …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Raptors trade rumors: Is OG Anunoby unhappy with Toronto?

Raptors trade rumors: Is OG Anunoby unhappy with Toronto?

The Toronto Raptors are looking anywhere and everywhere in their quest to find a potential trade suitor that can help turn this team into a contender. Masai Ujiri may even do something as drastic as trading away OG Anunoby. Anunoby, along with Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet, has been identified as a player that […]
Raptors trade rumors: Is OG Anunoby unhappy with Toronto? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Why a Fred VanVleet-Deandre Ayton swap could help Raptors and Suns

Why a Fred VanVleet-Deandre Ayton swap could help Raptors and Suns

The Toronto Raptors are looking more like a seller than ever before. Despite winning four of their last five games prior painful losses against the Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Timberwolves without Karl-Anthony Towns, Toronto may need to part with some of their starters in order to get deeper. PG Fred VanVleet and SG […]
Why a Fred VanVleet-Deandre Ayton swap could help Raptors and Suns – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

The Leafs 2023-24 Cap Situation vs. trade targets with term

The Leafs 2023-24 Cap Situation vs. trade targets with term

Looking at the Leafs cap situation for the rest of this season it is easy to determine how the trade deadline shakes out for the Leafs. If Muzzin doesn’t return the Leafs have the necessary space to add players, especially with salary retention. Trading Alex Kerfoot’s salary away (or Engvall’s or Holl’s for that matter, but Kerfoot’s is the priority for a couple of reasons) allows the Leafs to do something in addition to that Muzzin cap space or it becomes the alternative to it if Muzzin will be returning. The Leafs might not have a ton to work with, but they can be deadline players.
The biggest catch seems to be with the prices potentially being paid and the high value associated with a 2023 1st round pick, there is a desire to avoid rental players. Kyle Dubas has made it known that he prefers players with term, but the past couple of years have seen the Leafs primarily focus on expiring contracts and this year may be more of the same, especially given the Leafs cap situation going forward.
A quick look at the Leafs cap situation for 2023-24 shows that Toronto has $69.82M committed to Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Robertson, Jarnkrok, R …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Recapping the five best Toronto Maple Leafs goals of 2022

Recapping the five best Toronto Maple Leafs goals of 2022

The best part of this time of year is looking back at all of the incredible goals scored — by the Maple Leafs and every other team in the NHL.

Today, though, brings an all-Maple Leafs highlight reel, and 2022 had some of the best goals that I’ve seen from Toronto in a long time. We were able to see vintage John Tavares, Auston Matthews’ dazzling hockey IQ, and even a special goal from Pierre Engvall.
There were a lot of amazing goals to go through for this top five and it was very difficult figuring out where to place them. But I tried my best, and that’s all that matters, right?
Here are my picks for top five Maple Leafs goals of 2022. Enjoy!
5 – Morgan Rielly vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (February 17th, 2022)

An end-to-end masterpiece.
Rielly has scored a goal like this before, back in 2015, and I’d say that goal was even better than this one. Either way, though, it’s always fun when the 28-year-old can go end-to-end like this.
It’s an incredible individual effort.
4 – Pierre Engvall vs. New York Islanders (January 22nd, 2022)

We don’t often get Engvall goals, let alone highlight-reel ones.
This buzzer-beating dangle was far from what a lot of us expected to happen on this play. The 26-year-old is usually using his deceptive speed and strength to find the back of the net, and when he scored this, a lot of people were shocked.
I, personally, didn’t think Engvall had it in him to do this the NHL level. And it makes it even better that the goal was a buzzer-beater.
One of the goals of his career for sure.
3 – Mitch Marner vs. Florida Panthers (April 5th, 2022)

This goal might’ve been number one if not for Matthews and Tavares.
We usually see Marner as a magician with the puck, but as the years go by, he’s slowly solidifying himself as a goal-scorer too. The 25-year-old has three Panthers players on him, yet he somehow still finds a way to get by them all.
Marner even lifts the stick of MacKenzie Weegar just in time to go al …

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

Horvat doesn’t want to talk about his future, the holiday roster freeze, and the Leafs waivers situation: Rumours

Horvat doesn’t want to talk about his future, the holiday roster freeze, and the Leafs waivers situation: Rumours

The Canucks “we’re not looking to trade Bo Horvat” t-shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by their shirt…

Statement from Bo Horvat through the team pic.twitter.com/QfHqDe8UYJ
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 13, 2022

That certainly has all the signs of a player being available for trade and while Horvat will not be cheap to acquire and he most definitely will be expensive to retain beyond this season, Horvat is an intriguing option for the Leafs as well as pretty much any other playoff bound team this season. Horvat’s $5.5M contract this season is a bargain considering he has 20 goals, 29 points in 28 games so far this year. If the Canucks are willing to retain on that $5.5M, they should easily be able to gather the typical 1st round pick, prospect, and young roster player package typically associated with this caliber of player. It’s just a matter of whether or not that payment is worth it for a team that won’t have a chance at re-signing Horvat.
Elliotte Friedman reported that Horvat was offered a contract with an AAV in the $7M range from the Canucks. This is definitely on the lower side of what he’d get on the open market and a long term deal around $8.5M AAV seems far more likely. How many teams can plan for that when there is uncertainty around th …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Watch the Daily Faceoff Show Free Agency Special here!

It’s day one of free agency and we’re looking forward to seeing what the Toronto Maple Leafs get up to today.
Earlier, we outlined five bargain-bin free agents that could make sense for the Leafs to sign. You can read that story here.
Will the Leafs take a stab at P.K. Subban? Sam Steel? Curtis Lazar? We don’t expect the Leafs to be extremely active today, but they should be in the market to improve their overall depth with a smart, low-risk signing.
With Jack Campbell expected to join the Oilers and plenty more signings coming down the pipeline already, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk, along with plenty of guests are here to give you all the info and smart analysis you need!
You can watch the Daily Faceoff Show Free Agency Special livestream here:

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Author: David Quadrelli / The Leafs Nation