Oh Boy

You put Horton on the LTIR when you are up at the cap so that 4M plus the 5M you at 9M. I don’t think Mathews will get 12 but I will leave that alone. The fourth line will be either ELC or veteran making close to the league mom which I think is 700K in 20/21 so let’s say 2.5M on the fourth line leaves 6.5M two Hansiney/Polak type Dman and An ELC and that will be about 5.5M and a backup goalie at about 900K.

It's not going to work. They have this year. They still have no D and an average at best goalie.

The only team that was able to pay two guys 10m+ and be good is Chicago and that crumbled quickly. They won the year before they paid Kane and Toews & They were good for two years, but were also bounced in the 1st rd twice and failed to make the playoffs this last year. They were also forced to move a guy like Panarin for a much lesser player.

They have this year, but once you start paying more than one guy over 10M+ it's incredibly hard to win.

Chicago also had Keith (and at the time) seabrook on great deals. Kadri is on a great deal, but a top pairing D is probably more useful than 2nd line center being paid and playing 3rd line.

wait? why do you think he shouldn't count against the Leafs cap?
Im not questioning you I just maybe don't understand the CBA about this then. As far as I'm concerned, the leafs should see no relief.

and you are then basically praying that non of your guys you need to sign have a good year/years? Like kapenen has the ability to score 20+ next season, I gave him a bridge deal to lead up to a 4+ contract.
Mathews probably could get 12 million in my opinion. He is a 40 goal scorer that is 21ish years old, same agent as Mcdavid.

I don’t don’t know all the CBA rules but I have created team and notice if you are against the Cap you can put him on LTIR and get all or very close to his contract not going against the Cap. I don’t know what that means for the next season. Like the PB but then Marleau contract is off the books. I don’t think you can say Mcdavid and Mathews are at the same level I think they need to take advantage of that and get him in at about 10 to 11

yea im not sure either. but i feel like they shouldn't get 100% relief from his contract.
Mathews and McDavid are not close in my Opinion. McDavid is the best player on the planet, but i still think Mathews good and will command around 11 - 12 million. The Leafs need to convince him(Mathews) he isn't as good as JT and pray he has a down year (good luck) but I feel like if he will out produce him in the long run.
the leafs window to win is right now as I think things will only get tougher on them since they signed JT. Good on them but I think it could hurt them in the long run