Yes I know I forgot to add Skinner back to the lineup but it doesnt affect the cap.

Preferably not, would rather trade Marner for better assets

thats perfectly fine. I worked under the assumption the leafs would want to sign marner long term mostly b/c idk how often a team wins a deal when theyre giving up a guy like marner (see tkachuk deal)

I’m not opposed necessarily to trading him but literally zero chance he waives

yeah its long odds, but i wouldnt say zero. Suppose leafs mgmt told tavares that next season he'd get a considerably reduced role. Not exactly ideal in a contract season, right? He'd still probably want to stay home, but idk in a contract year if I'm wanting another payday before retirement, top line minutes do more for me than a reduced role on a contender.

Still very unlikely but it also just totally reeks of something Pegula would do.

If he resigns for more then 5.5M I’d be very very surprised

Yeah, but having 3 guys at 11.5+ is a really badd idea IMO

And Marner would get a haul

doesnt necessarily have to re-sign with buf in that scenario but idk, the cap will push 92+ mil by the time JT is a free agent. If he managed to score 30 playing next to tage and tuch, someone would give him that I think.

Yeah I dont disagree with your line of thinking. I might want the same if I were a leafs fan. It's just hard for me to imagine the leafs moving on from Marner. I always assumed it would be nylander.

His Uncle (also named John) is the coach of the Buffalo Bandits

No way Sabres are remotely interested in eating his cap hit