We all know next season will be tough. Not impossible but tough and then the next year will get significantly easier when JT goes from 11 million to hopefully under 7. This is something we all knew would be an issue. It should have been planned for better but Treliving sucks as a GM and Shanahan is an idiot. So instead of making plans to make this season better knowing next will require a younger and shallower roster, Treliving signed a bunch of brand name players and did nothing to help the defence. Moving one of Marner or Nylander isn't the answer either. Just creates an even bigger hole upfront.

Cap is going up to 87.7m next year, as of right now. At least that's the projected number.

If Nylander was willing to sign for 8 x $9,500,000 he'd already be re-signed by now, Most of the reports are that he's seeking between $10,500,000 to $11,000,000 x 7-8 years.

I seriously doubt that Noah Hanifin signs with Toronto or any Canadian team, He wants to play South of the border. Favorite more than likely is home town Boston.

With a cap of 87.7 or so, it will be much easier to sign Nylander. Also signing Hanifin was said to be between 7 and 7.5 million if Calgary did a sign and trade. It looks as though teams will look to that number which is a little less.

This lineup would not work though as Hanifin is a left defensemen. He doesn't have much experience as a right defenseman.
If Liljegren can develop chemistry with hanifin and we can find a cheap schenn like replacement that develops chemistry with Rielly, then it may work.

This is why i make this team..to Show Leafs fans like myself how hard it will be to keep Willy here and fill out this roster. I look forward to seeing more for from others.

I agree with you....that said i dont see how we can win Lord Stanley paying Marner 12 plus Willy 10 plus and Matthews 13.5 When JT's contract is over yes we will have more cap space but im sure we will keep him for a few more years..and we will have to deal with Knies contact...He will be 5mil plus for sure. Im just saying it wont be easy. Same players same out come. Hope they prove me wrong.