I would sooner spend Bertuzzi's money on a defenceman

Why is going up like "crazy". It never has before.

The D core beyond the top pair is still too weak for them to contend imo.

This looks like a roster that will score at least 5 goals a night but allow 6

leafs being leafs..paper tiger

According to cap friendly & other reports, the cap will grow to **at least** 92 million by the beginning of the 25-26 season (about a 5% increase, similar to this year), with belief that the year after that (26-27) the cap will also go up another 5%. Soon enough, an 11 million dollar contract will be a bit more common.

Maybe.. but i think berube can fix that and really get these guys to buy into a defensive game.

Yes. You may be right. But look at edmonton (albeit they are getting walked in the finals) but they have iced darnell nurse, codi ceci, and vinny deharnais. Look at those guys stats individually, they are horrible. Maybe they add a D at the deadline or sign another good one next season. I think they just need some competent defenceman who can buy into a defensive system and they can really compete.

I hear you, but I love bertuzzi. I stand by the statement that you need guys like that on your team when going for the cup. Especially when my roster is keeping a guy like marner. I remember when keefe put Willy - Domi - Bert on a line. Nylander started a scrum after the whistle. I have never seen him do that, until he started playing on that line. We need guys like bert and domi who can bring out our skilled guys. Maybe you can replace him with guys like dakota joshua for a cheaper price but i still have a soft spot for bertuzsi. Ontario boy with a big ole canadian hockey logo tatted on his chest. Plays with heart. Maybe berube gets Marshall to play well in his system. Rifai had 3 goals and an assist in the AHL playoffs this year in 3 games, and looked good in the 2 games he got with the leafs. Throws the body and plays hard. Good cheap option for the bottom pair imo. Furthermore, bertuzzi does not care where he plays. He is a team player. You need guys who dont complain about their role. Guys who are selfless and do whatever it takes and dont complain (which is why i would never ever want a guy like shane wright on my team, no wonder he fell from 1st overall). Cant win with those guys, they stop trying when they dont get what they want. Need guys like bertuzzi, and if he wants to stay here then heck yeah ill give him the money to stay here. Again, if we can replace him with soembody similar at a cheaper price tag then sure. but i hope you see my reasoning lol

It should be abundantly clear by now that the Leafs defence needs major upgrading. 2 more bodies for sure. Either 2 righties, or a righty and a lefty.

Montour I think would be a great addition as well as one of Pesce or Roy. Get those two and our defence is definitively better. Rielly with Pesce and Montour with McCabe is a solid top 4. Having Benoit and Liljegren/Timmins on the 3rd pair is the best Blueline the Leafs have had in the Matthews era. It's both Mobile, big and physical.