Toronto Maple Leafs: Maximize Entry Level Contracts, or Stay Patient?

Jan 1, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) walks off the field after their overtime victory against the Detroit Red Wings during the Centennial Classic ice hockey game at BMO Field. The Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings 5-4 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2 of 6

NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils /

James Tanner

The Leafs need to adopt a hybrid style between laying a solid foundation for a team that can be annually competitive, and a team that wants to go for it in the short term.

Clearly selling futures for short-term pieces or UFAs is ill-advised, but they have an upcoming three-Playoff chance to take advantage of all their young players being on ECLs + Kadri, Gardiner and JVR being on extremely team-friendly deals.

This will allow them, if they are smart, to build a team reminiscent of the Blackhawks first Cup Championship – the kind of team you can’t believe a team could put together in a salary-cap world.

In order to successfully do this, they need to trade some of their AHL/ junior prospects and even a first-rounder or two in order to build the best team possible while Auston Matthews et.al. are on entry-level deals.

This wouldn’t be like the Burke era starting of their rebuild by trading futures. It would be a sensible decision based on the realities of playing in a salary cap league.

Home/Analysis