You don’t want Spezza or Thornton playing on the 3rd line unless you fill in for an injury. Kerfoot is likely staying

Yeah idk about all that

I believe Thornton will sign with Toronto for a year at the league minimum. with that said, Leafs need cap space and trading Kerfoot for assets seems logical

It's just an idea

Sounds like Toronto is confident Mikheyev doesn't have a strong case in arb. So I'm thinking Dermott plus Mikheyev come in at $2.5m combined at absolute most.

Also sounds like Pridham will be this seasons MVP in saving capspace, so they can probably add Thornton and keep Kerfoot. Kerfoot would then be best option on 2nd line wing if Thornton can hold down 3C.

First of all, love your username. Secondly, if they can save cap space without trading Kerfoot, then I'd be happy, much like the rest of Leafs nation. My theory when it comes to Toronto is that Dermott plays the season while scratched for most of the games, so he at least gets the league minimum. Once the following season happens, Bogosian will probably leave Toronto and it will leave Liljegren, Sandin and Dermott battling for the final defensive spot on the Leafs, and I'm pretty sure Toronto doesn't want to lose Dermott, let alone Liljegren and Sandin. Mikheyev might get a cheaper deal in arbitration, but I see it where he gets $2.5 million as he did well before being injured. If can stay healthy, I can see it but I don't know what Toronto wants to give Mikheyev

Dermott's qualifying offer is almost $900k, so he won't be signing for less than that. IMO unless another move is made on the backend, Dermott claims a top 4 spot this season. None of Sandin, Lehtonen or Bogosian played 17 min/night last year in the NHL, so all of them are below him on the depth chart. Dubas is a straight shooter, he said Dermott should get a shot at RD this season, so it's him vs Holl for top 4 minutes, and Dermott has a way higher ceiling, so he could/should pass him this season.

Players with 39 games of experience under their belt have very little to stand on arbitration. The hearing is next week, and I'm pretty sure Leafs have no problem going that route. He'll be lucky top $1.25m per.

I also doubt Kerfoot is moved unless someone a like Haula is signed.

I'm not saying Dermott won't play, but with the options available, I just don't know if he'll get the minutes he's looking for. Now the Leafs have a good problem on defense and its who to put as the last pairing. Bogosian, Liljegren, Holl and Sandin. 2 spots open for 4 guys and I can see Bogosian getting one of them, but having a $2 million player on the 3rd defensive pairing is a little much. Do you see Holl getting traded?

Mikheyev might get a prove it deal for a million? Sounds reasonable, but if they're thinking more than a year with him, its why I went with $2.5 million for Mikheyev.

I'd be happy with Kerfoot staying but with the Leafs needing cap space, it's why I traded him here but I'd be happy if he stays

Holl would be my choice if someone needed to be traded, but I would have Sandin force his way into the lineup. Rotate Lehtonen and Bogosian as 6th dmen to start with either Dermott or Holl on 3rd pair.

Imo, if any of the depth wingers Engvall, Barabanov, Simmonds, Vesey aren't getting the job done, I could see Leafs roll 7 dman fairly often. Let all of the big 4 fwds get some extra shifts on 4th line, and let Bogosian rotate through the pairings and take PK duties off of Rielly hands to get him some extra rest over the season.

I can see the Leafs rolling 7 defenceman and if Holl has to get traded, then maybe a 4th and a 5th/6th round pick for him. We save on cap space and any team would love to have a cheap defenceman with term. Keep in mind the Leafs till have Petan, Boyd, Rosen and others to fill in the spots in case the others don't fulfill their roles. With the depth Toronto has right now, I believe it will be a better team than last year.