C’est une Conclusion:
When I started writing this, it was just an exercise. You know, just something fun to think about and which would make an entertaining article. The thing of it is though, I think I’ve actually convinced myself.
Looking at it logically, in order to even use the cap room they have next year (which is the second-last year where Marner and Matthews will be cheap) the Leafs would have to spend it on less than desirable UFAs or trade futures and youth for veteran help.
Loading up while the cap space is there and the Kids are cheap might be harder than it looks. Then, after that, especially if you don’t win, you’re looking at signing the three big guys and having to move out a bunch of aging vets. It’s a process the Blackhawks have kept repeating, and it’s been successful for them, but patience can really be the Leafs friend here.
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If they are going to move Kadri and company, they will be getting younger and they’ll have more cap room. They already have over 20 million to spend. They could sell this off to teams in cap trouble as they continue to add assets.
No one in Toronto thought the rebuild would go this fast. So why rush it now? If you include Kapanen and Rielly, the Leafs have five amazing, high-end players , four of whom are 21 or less.
If they were move Kadri, Gardiner and van Riemsdyk, that number could climb as high as eight. Add that to Zaitsev, Brown, Hyman and maybe Bracco and Dermott……
The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to have a great team for years, but a little patience could let them dominate the league for years to come.