No...just stop...but nice try...hope this would be possible

In the last few years cap only went up 2 mil. From 71 to 73 to 75. Nice effort but there is no nway this happens. matthews and tavares will both get at least 10

While I do agree with this, I believe we are overpaying for Nylander and Marner, as they will probably be closer to the 6x6 range which is standard for potential elite players leaving their elc.

This must have been a lot of work. However, there is no way the cap is rising 3 million a year. Thinking like that has the Blackhawks where they are now. The Big 3 are being underpaid. There is no way that the Leafs can afford Tavares and Matthews, two potential 10 million players AND another two 7+ million players.

It only went up at all from 69 million because the NHPLA agreed to let it increase even though revenue hadn't, and as such players are losing a bigger portion of their salary to escrow now. It's more likely for there to be some flat, or even down, years between here and 2021.

Roster of 21 and cap of 83 is two years.....not happening. Most of the trades....way too much in return for the Leafs. And why are the Leafs trading so many of their important players? I know they are on expiring contracts but the idea still is to win. Are JVR and even Tavares going to be that valuable to sign as UFA? Maybe some team will overpay but doubt of its the Leafs.

You are relying too much on cap increases, which are an uncertainty. with a lockout inevitably happening, more elite FAs are going to want most of their salary as a bonus and structure their contract to insure they have a source of earned income.

As the guy who made this - I'll be the first to admit that its never going to happen.

That being said, we definitely have the assets to make both the Klingberg & Landeskog trades happen (or similar ones) - without losing any of our core players or top prospects. This is especially true if management chooses to to trade our expiring contracts at the deadline for the next couple years (only player that aren't in the long term plan). I don't see this happening if we're in playoff contention, but management should do it anyways & let some rookies fight for playoff experience. Bozak, Komarov, Marleau, Hainsey, Marincin, Marchenko, Soshnikov, D.Moore, Martin, McElhinney, B.Smith, Fehr etc. - would net us a combo of like ten 1st or 2nd round picks if they were packaged at the deadline with some low-end prospects & late round picks.

1) Cap growth - I agree, 3 million a year is too optimistic. It'll likely be around 2 million or less & be closer to 80 million in 2020-21.

2) The big 3 contracts - I disagree that they're underpaid above (most people seem to be on your side though). You have to look at comparables though. Example: Johnny Gudreau got 64 points as a rookie, then 78 points in 79 games (with 30 goals) in his 2nd year & then signed that summer (2016) for a $6,750,000 AAV x 6 Years. It took a point per game to earn that contract & the salary cap was basically the same. Who knows if any of our big 3 will get a PPG this season. I assume at least one of them will - but if no one improves their point totals I could see Marner / Nylander at $6,000,000 x 5 years & Matthews at 7.5 million x 6 years (mostly thanks to his position & intangibles). If they improve at everything & each add 20 points to last years totals this year - I could see them all getting max terms with Marner / Nylander between $7-8,000,000 & Matthews between $8-9,000,000. There's only 4 players in the league with an AAV at $10,000,000 or more. Three of signed long term for less than they were worth, won stanley cups & got rewarded for it in their late twenties. The other just won the Heart, Ted Lindsay & Art Ross trophies & got 100 points. Lou's not giving Matthews $10,000,000+ unless he wins the heart this year - though he may get a 2 year deal to try & earn it.

3) Tavares contract - The comparable is Stamkos signing for an $8,500,000 AAV last year (with a hometown discount). He likely turned down offers over $10,000,000 though. In terms of their market values - Tavares has the edge defensively, but Stamkos averages 10-15 more points per season, has lead his team deeper in the playoffs & is probably worth $500,000 more, all things being equal. Someones going to offer Tavares $10,000,000+ but there aren't many competitive teams with that much cap space. My guess was that he'd take hometown discount between $8-9,000,000 & stay on the Island, but they keep trading players for picks & look to be getting worse. If he wants a cup I bet he'll take $9,000,000 from a contender, which could be his hometown Leafs.
SIDENOTE: If he actually does sign with the Leafs under market value - I can't imagine Matthews wanting more than Tavares right afterwards - though he may get a matching AAV if he has an amazing season.

June 2016 - Steven Stamkos signs for $8,500,000 per year, as an UNRESTRICTED free agent in his prime, after three 90+ point seasons - earning the 9th highest AAV in the NHL.

Oct 2016 - Johnny Gudreau signs for $6,750,000 per year after scoring 78 points in 79 games & putting up the 6th best PPG in the NHL in his second season.

July 2017 - Austin Matthews tallies 69 points as a rookie, catapulting him to the 29th best PPG in the NHL - only 7 slots behind fellow rookie Patrick Laine. But don't let this overshadow his miraculous +2 rating through 82 games - good for 8th place on the Maple Leafs roster, just behind another young phenom Martin ''Don't Play Me In Overtime" Marincin. Impressive as Matthews +2 rating was, he would have further dominated this stat line without the enormous responsibility of warming the bench while Nazim Kadri & Brian Boyle handled all defensive zone face-offs & difficult match ups. Mesmerized yet? How about fact that Matthews was 100% undeniably the Maple Leafs best rookie - about 25% of the time - when he wasn't being out played by as many as 4 other Leaf rookies. Given all of these unprecedented accomplishments, we can only come to one rational conclusion - Austin Matthews MUST be handed one of the 3 highest paying contracts in the NHL. It's the only solution. I mean look at the stats and you'll know that he's earned it. McDavid got $10,000,000+ with only 31 more points than Matthews, that's nothing. The Heart & Ted Lindsay Trophies are overrated & the Art Ross voting was clearly biased. Teows, Kane & Kopitar make over $10,000,000 & what have they ever done besides show off their upper body strength? OooOooohh you can lift a big jug over your head & smile like it's not heavy. What the f*** does that have to do with hockey? It's not like they took a pay cut earlier in their career & they got a ring out of it. Its not like they've handicapped their team with a $10,000,000 raise. Matthews needs to get at least 10 million & he needs it now! I'm with you guys. Lou's with you too. I'm sure hes trying to sign Nylander for $8,000,000 x 8 but the kid wont budge. I can hear it now 'I just got 60 points as a rookie & you want me to take the 12th highest salary in the NHL...whats Crosby done that I haven't?''

Am I incorrect in thinking that Bonus payments affect cash flow and do not affect cap hits?
The Leafs should be the best positioned team to take advantage of this as I'm sure they could pay a full years salary at the start of a season if necessary to get a deal signed.
Bonuses also get paid out during lockouts I think, but I'm not sure if that would affect the teams cap in the years following a lockout?