Kevan Miller was barly an NHLer before he got hurt and has been out for over a year. That would be a terrible signing, you'd be better off with Ceci

No Sandin? That’s worrying. Also, you can’t take Hyman away from Matthews and Nylander.

Cap won’t be that high. The leafs need to find a way to improve their D if they plan on getting out of the first round, and with no money to spend I think some decisions need to be made.

Why is Dermott getting so much money?

Tavares I would argue needs Marner and Hyman more than Matthews - Matthews can play with anyone imo and Sandin and Liljegren I think need more time in the minors despite their high ceilings... Sandin is not even 20 yet I think he can benefit from more development

Lol barely an NHLer what are you talking about? Give him a look on db

He showed how strong of a player he was with all those injuries and really stepped for me - getting him at 4.25 over a 7 year span would be a massive win imo

I saw him going at 3.5Mx6

perhaps - definitely hard to gauge the cap with everything going on right now but again it is only a 2.5M increase and even if it only increases say 1.5 you can restructure the Dermott deal on a shorter term with less money to make it fit (2.5 over 2 years for example) although I prefer to lock him long term

you mean the guy who had 7 assists and 0 goals in 39 games for boston in 18/19 while getting absolutely caved in on shots and chances against? that Kevan Miller? The guy with zero ability to play one way hockey which ever way you choose? that guy?

like i said, barely, and i mean skin of his teeth, replacement level 7th Defender on a lotto team barely an NHL player

Sandin for the most part, looked like a regular and has already burned his first year in his ELC. And the Hyman-Matthews-Nylander line was dominant. Now as much as I’d love to see both the Nylanders, I think Alex our with Tavares and Marner is a better option for him. He’s not quite a first liner, and playing with Tavares and Marner could be good for him.

adding another Nylander wont help

Chicago is trading the best forward and the best defense and taking on cap space? Dermott probably doesnt even get half of that contract. Strome isn't taking that deal LOL

Carolina has no need for an expensive 3rd line undersized, injured winger. Their forward group is pretty much set, and they likely won't have a lot of cap to play with, especially if it flat lines as most expect it to for next year.

LOLLLL CHI is trying to move Strome and if you actually think Dermott is not worth 4 over 7 years you are absolutely delusional

The guy is a +80 over his career and evaluating a defensive shut down d man who brings major sandpaper and physicality to a soft d-end by looking at his point totals makes no sense lol...

The theme of this post is supposed to be: "Trying to manage the cap"

Then BRIDGE DEAL Dermott (RFA) w/ a 'show me' contract first for less $$$ and term (period).

1- lol +/-
2-he has literally been out of the league for over a year
3-he isnt a shut down d-man because he doesnt shut anything down. He gets horribly destroyed by not even great competition
4-physicality is useless when you suck at hockey like Kevan Miller does

When you get that much term on a player for a contract at just over $4M it is much better for the cap than doing a 2-3 year bridge and then having to pay the player even more money... Dermott is the real deal and getting him now on a long term 7-8 year deal at 4.25M is a steal based off the longetivity of the deal

Agree to disagree (as have many others ^ ^).
There's not enough $-space in TO's Cap to 'miss' anymore!
The US$84M you've posted is a big stretch of the imagination. Moreover, you still have a player to sign for 23 (TO had so many injuries in '19-'20 a depleted roster each night is in no way gonna cut it - be out of it by US Thanksgiving).
Lastly, Dermott's ceiling is not like a "Subban-style" of contract raise coming out of RFA status...

There is a massive difference between saying someone is available and selling them for cheap.
I think you are the delusional one, Dermott's ceiling os a #4 defenseman. He will spend the majority of his career on the 3rd pair.

Dermott is easily a top 3-4 and over that span 4.25 is the going rate... number one d-men are getting 8-9 + ... Dermott at 1/2 the price for 7 years is a very fair price... Idk how that is delusional... he is easily the #3 man on this team and hopefully #4 if we can get a RHD to pair with Rielly...