Even moving those cap hits off doesn't solve the problem, as you have only 20 guys on the roster. That isn't realistic.

Realistically a team needs 22 players - 20 that are dressed + 1 forward + 1 defense to cover right away in case of injury. If only 20 they may not be enough time to call up a player from the AHL to fill in. Exspecially if the team is on the road.

Brown, Zaitsev and Bracco have more value than that as well. Zaitsev is just slightly over paid, if his AVV was 3.5 we would love him. Bracco has gained a ton of value in the minors the last year

I think you exceed the maximum amount you can be over the cap at the start of the season. Offseason LTIR is apparently a pain in the ass, so you would either have to clear room for hortons cap hit, or trade him away.

Methot can't play anymore...wouldn't give him $3m...which is too bad...he was a great complimentary partner to an offensive d-man not that long ago....but I'd rather have Hainsey and save $1m

The Marlies play a few streets away

Agreed, but Zaitzev's term is also a major issue. Bracco has value and packing a valuable prospect is probably what it would take to move Z. Also, he's not a Dubas guy so I see him gone this offseason

I wasn't concerned about Method specifically, just a vet who could play the "Hainsey role" until Sandin is ready.

That's true and when the leafs and Marlies are both playing at home that works. What happens if during the leafs warmup for a game in Vancouver and the marlies are in Toronto and Reilly starts vomitting all over the place and cannot play the game. There is no one around to take his spot in the game with only 20 players on the roster and not enough time to fly a marlie out from toronto.

More importantly, you need cap space to call a player up from the Marlies. The only time you get cap relief is if you put a guy on Long term IR. And for that to happen, a doctor has to diagnose the injury as taking 10 games or 24 days to recover from. So for those minor day-to-day type injuries, you need cap space and/or a roster bigger than 20 guys to be able to ice a full team