all i can look at is how bad that defensive core is, like Liljegren is gone once his contracts up, unless you can pull 3-5mill (assuming he gets good) out of nowhere, i dont see you saving that much money from contracts in the future aside from Marleau, but even then im sure youd want to replace him with someone else worth similar right? why not John Carlsson instead, fixing an issue on your lineup

Leafs could probably fit the big 3 and Nylander but not really in the future. The fact that Rosen and Carrick are on your posted team to me show they are going to have trade (likely Nylander) for a let's say a 5m Dman
Whenever a team, any team have top end cap with few players, they are so dependent on players on ELCs and low paying RFA contracts....and that bubble can burst.

From what I've been hearing contract wise is Nylander 6min- 6.5, Marner 7-8 million, Matthews 10.5,11.5. I can only see them bringing back Carrick on a deal less than 1 million for only a year. Seems like martin is gone from what I've been hearing.

I read that Marner wants what Matthews gets

Let's not get into what players want. They all want 15m per season When players are RFA,s the teams have some control of their salary.

Defense core isint as bad as everyone is making out to be and Tavares will make a bigger impact on the team then Carlsson ever will. Could def use a solid RHD but still got two 40+ point dman in Rielly & Gardiner plus Liljegren is coming soon and Dermott is a strong two-way defender. Zaitsev is looking for a bounce back year, Ozhiganov will get a look, and Calle Rosen looked like a very strong mobile puck moving dman during the Marlies Calder Cup run. Add some better defensive forwards and Leafs are in good shape. Both Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay have alot more offensive fire power then Toronto right now so theirs still work to do up front. Also Id rather see Tavares Vs Malkin/Point in the playoffs then Kadri vs Malkin/Point.

Players are genuinely pretty good at determening what they’re worth and when you break it down, marner is arguably as valuable if not more valuable than Matthews

Hey, real nice effort putting the lineup together.

Your entire concept is what I’ve kinda been saying for a while....If the three big RFA’s agree to reasonable deals, they can squeeze JT in.... but then they’re stuck without any wiggle room to improve on D.

That being said, If they land Tavares, it eliminates the need to push Nylander over to Center. And I think there’s trades to be had for good young RHD men if Nylander is in the deal.

I have it on very good authority that Marner’s camp will be seeking a long term deal that will be slightly less than Matthews. But they definitely see his number closer to Auston than Willy. And they’re willing to play out the season to prove it