LOL best scenario? Still negative cap get out if here

Best? the title says most realistic... And in the description, I talk about the cap situation. You are seeing what you want to see... Not what is actually there.

Isn’t this basically just the same team as last year but Robertson instead of Johnsson and now Barrie?

I guess they have worked themselves into a corner where they can’t improve any players but it’s still concerning that they’re spinning their tires withholder being in the same division as Tamp and Boston. Wouldn’t be surprised if Florida finishes higher than the leafs next year

Minor changes only really. This is still an extremely good team. All their young guys get one year older also. But they are missing a top pair right hand dman in my mind. They would need to trade Willy or Marner for one of those. Which I have made enough teams doing just that. But this is what I most likely see happening.

I strongly doubt it regarding Florida. Anything is possible of course, but I doubt it.

That would be really hard to do the gymnastics to stay under the cap with this team. Although I guess it’s slightly easier than when they had Horton & Clarkson. Trading Kerfoot seems like the least detrimental option, but they’re going to have a hard time getting someone to bite on him without cap coming back.

Send their young 2 way eligible players to the AHL every second they can. Or run a 21 man roster for most of the year. Could definitely work. They did a lot of that this year also.

I don't love the idea of trading Kerfoot. Their center depth takes a big hit without him there. But I would rather trade him than Kapanen, that's for sure!

I think this is close to lineup. I have doubts about Robertson being NHL ready.
Don't know whys CF folks are so worried/fascinated by the lack of RHD on the Leafs. Barrie was horrid last season, and Ceci was average. Lehtonen and Dermot could be a an improvement on the right side.
As TMLBrian indicated, Leafs need Kerfoot as as centre.
Don't know why so many are worried about the Leafs cap, other teams are going to trouble just retaining their good RFAs.

I think it's less about it being a lack of RHD but more uncertainty in that area. You know what to expect from every other spot on this roster. Just have a few question marks on the RHD. Like can Dermott play to his potential and be a top 4? How good is Lehtonen, can he play in the NHL? Will Lilypad take the next steps and become a true NHLER? That's why I have always tried to get a bonafied top 4 RHD.

As for Robertson, we will see! He isn't an essential part of this roster. They have a few other guys who can fill that spot. I just put him there for now as that would be his spot, if he is ready.

You're right about the unknown of Lehoten and Liljegren. I really don't buy into "top 4" nonsense. Last two seasons, Dermot has played 17 minutes a game and has "plus seasons" He's played with with a Russian rookie two years ago and last year mostly with Ceci. So it not like he sheltered time and had great Dman partner help. Playing with either Reilly or Muzzin just might be "easier" for him.

For Dermott, both those seasons were played as Left D. So I guess I meant, we will see if you can play that well on the Right Side, for a long period as well. I would start him with Rielly next year for the first 10-15 games and see how that goes.

The problem is injuries. If the Leafs have 3 or 4 injuries for any sustained amount of time, it may put them over the cap in the end.

Edit: Also that would be extremely distasteful to keep sending up & down young NHL regulars, since you would be cutting down their salary every time you send them down.

That's the case for like 5 teams every year

Almost all of the teams near the cap were using LTIR this year. The thing is that the teams we’re able to ice a 23 man roster when healthy. This team can ice a 21 man roster when healthy, and they’d go over the cap pretty quick without injuries.

Fair enough. Also Mikeheyv is not getting that $$ unless it's a longer term deal. That walks him right to UFA

IDK. Mikheyev might not get that money, but he certainly deserves it.

It may be distasteful but the Leafs have been doing just that none stop for the past few years. Any second they could, they were sending their young 2 way, waiver except, players down to the AHL and back up. None stop. For cap reasons.

How does anyone sign a 2-way contract with this team? That’s horrible.

I feel like this is common practice with most teams now a days. I would need to look into it more, but that is my assumption!

That is the dumbest thing I have heard just look you have negative cap, this is bad lol good try though