Next year is going to be interesting for the leafs....
assuming they can manage to get mathews in at $11M, marner at $7.5M, and bridge nylander at say $5M... Their cap situation looks like fun, in that they would be at a cap hit of ~$71.5M. Assuming the cap remains static, that leaves about $8M to sign:
4 x bottom6 forwards (plus a 13th forward)
3 x bottom3 defencemen (plus a 7th dman)
1 x backup goalie
the year after, they get relief off of Marleau's $6.5M, but unless they are able to move Marleau before then, next season should be a lot of fun.
I just don't understand why the leafs a) signed Marleau in the first place knowing they'd be in this spot, b) are so invested in the idea of signing Nylander after getting tavares, when they have the obvious need on defense
If I were dubas, i would have tried to use Nylander to pry out a young dman from elsewhere, and give that guy this money.
One could look at moving kadri but that contract is too damn good to move. The guy is a 30 goal scoring C that plays the 2nd/3rd line C spot. Not to mention, he's got an edge to him, which is another thing this leafs team is completely missing throughout the lineup.
Let the talking heads keep planning the parade down Yonge St though
