My thoughts:

Cap will likely not go up next year, talk is it will stagnant for next 2 years.
DeMelo likely will get much higher offers than 2.6
They will not bring back Sparks. That ship has sailed.
With little cap space available for 21-22 season and a needing 7 more players to make a minimum roster , you will not be able to re-sign Andersen. You will be forced to go with 2 fairly cheap goalies, not the best scenario for a young, fairly inexperienced defense.

I suspect cap will continue to go up in small amounts like this 2ish million per year instead of the 5 we've often seen.

Cap situation looks a lot better when we recognize an 8 million dollar defenseman (Barrie) is a luxury we can't afford

Oh no....in 2021/22 you're talking about inexperienced Dman???? Reilly is still young? Dermot will starting year 5 in the NHL, Sandin and Liljegren likely year 2. Who know who the three other are. Good chance some relatively cheap vets. But why can't a forward be traded for a Dman if some current Marlies or junior forwards are ready for the NHL? Be interesting is Holl or Scott are with the Leafs next season, the eye of at least one of them playing big minute in 2021/22