Quoting: Trevorchef
Not even close to a contender IMO.
No cap space and a 20 man roster isn't an option in an 82 game schedule.
Pass for sure.
Really, not even close to a contender?
I certainly understand the concern about roster size & cap space with respect to flexibility over the course of an 82 game schedule.
But surely adding Danault and Tatar (2/3rds of one of the leagues top 5 lines last season) at least puts you in the conversation. That would essentially give the leafs three 1st-lines, making them even more of a matchup nightmare than they already are.
With 3 lines that are able to consistently dominate in even-strength scoring chances and the defensive gains that the team made last offseason, even with the slightly skeleton roster, surely this is a team that can contend.
I think you're sleeping on the impact Danault and Tatar can bring to the team.
But, I will concede that certainly the cap and roster size situation is not a comfortable position to be in.