A look at the Leafs' cap situation for 2022-23; Is it really that bad?
For several years now, we've heard a lot about how the Leafs are in ''salary cap hell'' and yet, time and time again, Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and AGM Brandon Pridham have been able to ice rosters that have shown tangible improvement season over season. Is this "cap hell" narrative that the media and fans in rival markets are trying to spin really any different than the situations that other teams who spend to the cap are in? More importantly, is the position that the Leafs are in really that bad?
Per CapFriendly.com, the Leafs currently have nearly $8M in available cap space to fill 6 roster spots - and that's if they don't move out any salary, such as Petr Mrazek's $3.8M, Justin Holl's $2M or Jake Muzzin's $5.625M. Those 6 roster spots that need to be filled are also to get to the 23-man roster limit. The Leafs have the option to roll with a 20-man or 21-man roster if they see fit. That would allow them to save themselves, presumably $2.25M or more, which could be used to help re-sign Jack Campbell, Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren.
Thanks to NHL Insider Chris Johnston, we already know that the Leafs are planning to fill many of their vacant roster spots through internal promotions with players on entry-level deals. If we assume that the Leafs go with a 20-man roster, and can re-sign Jack Campbell for around $4.5M per season, that would leave the Buds with $3.3M in cap space to bridge Sandin and Liljegren. That $3.3M becomes $5.3M if Justin Holl is moved this summer.
All but three of the Leafs' ELC players are locked up to deals ranging between $750K and $850K, with only Rodion Amirov ($925K), Topi Niemela ($856,667) and Roni Hirvonen ($856,667) making more. Simply put, even if the Leafs make no significant moves or sign any free agents at all, they are still in perfectly fine shape.
We all want the sexy free agent signings and the impact trades, because those are exciting. But ultimately, the Leafs providing opportunities to young players on entry-level deals could result in keeping them in prime shape cap-wise and also potentially finding the next breakout star internally. There's no use in signing a player like Max Domi or Ryan Strome if a player like Joey Anderson or Alex Steeves is capable of stepping in and making a similar impact for a quarter of the price.
That said, I do expect the Leafs to make at least one significant move this offseason that would require them to move out some salary. Mrazek, Kerfoot and Muzzin remain the potential contracts to watch.
| POLL | ||
MAI 28 | 288 ANSWERS A look at the Leafs' cap situation for 2022-23; Is it really that bad? Which Leafs prospect are you most excited for? | ||
| Matthew Knies | 207 | 71.9 % |
| Nick Robertson | 44 | 15.3 % |
| Topi Niemela | 26 | 9 % |
| Other | 11 | 3.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
