Reports of Leafs' offseason plans may frustrate fans in Toronto

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Ryan Smitheram
June 12, 2024 (8:19)

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Brad Treliving has a lot of work to do this off-season

Photo credit: DAN HAMILTON-USA TODAY SPORTS

As the Leafs and Treliving navigate the Mitch Marner situation very carefully in conjunction with Marner and his agent until a decision is made on his future, the team will also be deciding how to use their almost $20M in cap space. Depending on how the Marner situation plays out, TSN's Chris Johnston believes it could be a very quiet off-season for the Leafs.

"They do have cap space. I think you're going to see them acquire at least two defensemen," said Johnston. "The end result is, we might be looking at a year where not that much did change and we look at summer 2025 when you have Marner coming off the books, when you have Tavares contract set to expire - $21M in cap space right there just with them. As much as some fans don't want to hear this, it might just be a summer where changes are coming from the free agency signings you're making and you've got one more year where its the Core 4 and Morgan Rielly."

Johnston pointed out that the amount of activity the Leafs participate in significantly depends on the outcome of the Marner situation.

At the very least, we know that Treliving will be actively attempting to bolster and upgrade the blueline. The Leafs have also already held extension talks with Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi and if both of them return along with two defensemen and a goaltender like Laurent Brossoit, the Leafs will be out of cap space very quickly and fans will have to wait another year before any truly significant changes are made.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

Talks reportedly intensify with Leafs/Flames about Jacob Markstrom

Maple Leafs reportedly preparing to trade for two San Jose Sharks players

Leafs confirmed to be taking calls on Mitch Marner

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12 JUIN \| 317 ANSWERS Reports of Leafs' offseason plans may frustrate fans in Toronto Which defenseman should the Leafs treat as a priority in free agency?
Zadorov	67	21.1 %
Pesce	97	30.6 %
Montour	135	42.6 %
Other	18	5.7 %
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