The Leafs actually have a wealth of cap space and forward depth next season. What they don't have is a replacement top 4 defenceman and a back up goaltender.
Either via free agency or trade (most likely), how can they leverage their depth of wingers to acquire a dman and or a back up goalie.
Plan A) I truly believe the #1 plan is to make a pitch to Pietrangelo. 9.5 x 7 or even 10 x 7.
There is a good chance that he will end up re-signing with the Blues, but I think if he is to test the market, even to see what is out there, the Leafs would be prime candidates to make an offer. In order to sign him and get a goalie better than Hutchinson, the Leafs would have to move a salary. I would guess Kapanen. Leafs could trade Kapanen for a late 1st rounder and make a splash on draft day. Then Leafs could pursue a number of more expensive goaltender options in the 1.5-2.5 million range. This would give them enough space to sign Petro, get a solid back up, and give opportunity to their other young wingers like Bracco, Korshkov, etc to make the team.
Plan B) The Leafs re-sign one of Barrie or Muzzin and have more than enough cap room to sign a goalie and sign a veteran depth dman as well. Issue with this is Barrie hasn't been very good and Muzzin is a LHD. We need a RHD. This would be an easy solution, but would leave the D-core to again be mediocre at best.
Plan C) Explore free agency for some lesser free agents that could supplement the top 4. Hamonic, Tanev, etc... Either of those guys could likely be signed if they slapped a 5x5 in front of either of them. Again, the problem with this is the D would be pretty weak overall.
Plan D) Complete defensive overhaul... If the Leafs feel that the D is the root of their problems, they could make a few moves that would make the group stronger now by sacrificing more long term assets. Trade Dermott who is likely slotted to be a top 4 Dman next year coupled with a prospect like Bracco or someone like Kapanen for a legit 2nd pairing guy. Number one guy I am actually thinking of is Ekholm, but other guys would be Vatanen, Brodin, Gostisbiere, Leddy, etc.... Couple that with trading Liljegren + for another top 4 D. This idea is pretty foolish, but could offer short term results.
You have lost all CapFriendy followers when he say the Leafs have a wealth of cap space next year. 84.5m cap space, roster of 20. Allowing Engvall to leave a UFA, having Bracco on the team, If UFA Holl is important member of defence he certainly signs for more than 1.5m. IMO Dermot does too.
Seeing how bad those long term contract for E Karlsson, Burns and Doughty appear to heading, I don't think any GM think 10m for Pietrangelo is wise.
Dermott and Holl have been good in the roles they are in. Holl especially has shown he can play and under Keefe he is playing against much tougher competition.
It's just too bad it took the Babcock firing for Holl to get a bigger role on this roster.
Assuming both Dermott and Holl are back next season, they will have bigger roles by default.
You have lost all CapFriendy followers when he say the Leafs have a wealth of cap space next year. 84.5m cap space, roster of 20. Allowing Engvall to leave a UFA, having Bracco on the team, If UFA Holl is important member of defence he certainly signs for more than 1.5m. IMO Dermot does too.
Seeing how bad those long term contract for E Karlsson, Burns and Doughty appear to heading, I don't think any GM think 10m for Pietrangelo is wise.
LMAO. They do relative to what people think... They have 16 million if the cap stays the same. Cap is expected to go up that much.
Engvall leaving a UFA? Who cares. We aren't talking a top prospect here. Also pretty sure a 2 year deal he would still be an RFA. He would be 25 at the end of it
You may have a point that Holl and Dermott are underpayed, but that is why there is still 2.4 mill in space here. To sign more than 20 on the roster.
I don't ever put 23 on the roster when there is barely any way to speculate who those final roster spots are going to be anyway. They are going to be cheap that is for sure