Maple Leafs Can Have Almost Unlimited Cap Space (If They Want To)

Much has been made about the Toronto Maple Leafs cap situation.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are up against the salary cap, but that is about all people get right when discussing this topic. 

The Leafs spent 41% of their cap on four elite players, and this has always bothered people, mostly because it’s never been done before.  Despite the originality of the Leafs salary cap management, it is mathematically the best way to approach the situation because, in a professional league with a salary cap, having elite players is really all that matters.

The Leafs are, in fact, the only team in the NHL without a single bad contract on the books.  This has allowed them to build one of the best teams in the NHL (possibly the best) and with the trade deadline approaching, the Leafs have got as much cap space as they want (pretty much).

Toronto Maple Leafs Cap Situation

It’s hilarious – for all the criticism (unwarranted) that Kyle Dubas has taken for his (correct) approach to the salary cap, people always neglect to mention that if the salary cap had gone up as expected (TV Deal, Expansion, Gambling) the Leafs would have had almost unlimited money with which to operate.

Regardless, you’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt, and the Leafs are still in great shape – they are in first place heading into the deadline and have the money to make one significant add for sure, and more if they want it.

Here’s the thing: Jack Campbell has won the starting job and nobody needs a $5 million dollar backup goalie.  Andersen has already been paid most of the money owed to him, and his contract would be extremely easy to move.  Boom! $5 million in cap space. 

Also, as I wrote earlier, Alex Kerfoot makes $3.5 million and is currently on the fourth line, having been surpassed by Pierre Engvall on the depth chart, so he’s probably getting traded.

That’s almost $8.5 million in cap room for players who are currently contributing nothing.  Say it costs a million and a half to get a half decent backup, you’re still talking about having $7 million in cap space.

And, before Kerfoot and Andersen were expendable, the Leafs – through cap accumulation and a possible 3rd party – were already able to add a player like Taylor Hall.

So basically, what I’m saying here is that if the Leafs have the guts to go with Campbell, they could have (more or less) unlimited cap space.  As food for thought, wouldn’t a healthy Andersen forced into a backup role be disruptive to team chemistry? Or at least, potentially?

The Toronto Maple Leafs could move both, and add Taylor Hall and Josh Manson, if they wanted to.

They should want to.