The Leafs are due to have one of the most exciting offseasons in recent history, and with some big decisions to make, some tough choices will have to be made. How can Brad Treliving and his staff make the most out of a tricky situation?
The Maple Leafs are bound to lose some pieces in free agency this summer, most notably, Michael Bunting. If the Leafs can manage to get rid of some hefty contracts such as TJ Brodie and Matt Murray, they could find replacements for their outgoing players while still having plenty of cap space to play with.
This fan proposes that by getting rid of Brodie and Murray, the Leafs could free up 9.6 million in cap space. They can then sign Damon Severson and Tyler Bertuzzi in free agency to replace Bunting and Brodie while replacing Murray from within thanks to the emergence of Joseph Woll.
After all is said and done, the Leafs would still be left with $16 million left in cap space. While they could decide to go all out again at the deadline this year and acquire another star with a big contract, it's more than likely that Treliving chooses to hold onto that free money.
Auston Matthews and William Nylander are both due for massive pay raises next year, and will easily cost the Leafs north of $20 million together. Treliving and the Leafs will need to save all of the cap space they can to ensure they can retain what some would consider to be the better half of the Core Four.
