3 Decisions the Toronto Maple Leafs Must Get Right This Offseason

3 of 4

The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost in the first round yet again despite playing a close to perfect playoff series. It sucks to lose, but losing by just one goal, in the deciding game of a series against a team that appears to be on their way to a third straight Stanley Cup is still respectable.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, despite losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games, are trending in the right direction.

Why?

Because they forced the Lightning to play their best game and a perfect series in order to progress.

Tampa then slaughtered the Panthers in four and are very likely to make their third Stanley Cup Final in a row. Their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs “was one of the toughest series we’ve probably played. They have everything” Steven Stamkos (via ESPN).

As the Leafs are not far away from their goal of winning the Stanley Cup, they should stay the course and do their best to keep the team together… Except that the salary cap won’t allow that. So, what can they do to remain in their current state?

Here, I will go over three decisions the Maple Leafs should make.

May 14, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell (36) Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Retain Jack Campbell

Jack Campbell has been the hardest matchup for Andrei Vasilevskiy thus far, not many goalies can say that they pushed him to the limits in the last three postseasons than Campbell.

He has displayed the ability to be reliable in net and seems to possess the poise needed for a team to win the Stanley Cup.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking for a starting goaltender next season, so why not re-sign Campbell?

The Leafs have Petr Mrazek on their cap at 3.8 million, but he hasn’t played that well to deserve the starting job. If the Maple Leafs can trade him and open up that money, then Campbell could be re-signed for about 5 million.

The Leafs currently seem to know what they would be signing, so I would rather see him in net than Carter Hart (massive price tag) or John Gibson (not impressive performances in the playoffs).

The tandem of Campbell and Erik Kallgren was good enough to earn the second seed in a stacked Atlantic division, as well.

As they have Kallgren signed for next season, this should really be the tandem they should trust moving forward. Would it be great to have another elite goaltender? Of course, we have seen this in the postseason for years. But, the cap isn’t in the Leafs favor.

May 2, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin (8) . Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Trade Jake Muzzin (or TJ Brodie)

Jake Muzzin is still a serviceable defenseman… But with many RFAs needing new contracts, he may have to go. His 5.625 million salary has to be moved to ice a competitive roster on par with the skill and speed of the league’s best.

Who could Jake Muzzin be traded to? And what could they get in return? I won’t speculate that.

However, if Muzzin is traded along with TJ Brodie, they will open up 10.625 million dollars in cap space to add on to their current 7.8 million.

With over 18 million in cap space (~22 million in space if Mrazek is also traded). This opens up the opportunity to not only sign everyone back, BUT this could give them the opportunity of signing players to improve the team.

With big contracts moved out that brings in arguably better players for the long run, the team has to look at another defenseman to pair with Morgan Rielly. I think Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin will become regulars next season, so the Maple Leafs need that second key defenseman contenders need to win. I think they can find it… But the way it could happen may not be what fans want.

May 14, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) . Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Trade William Nylander

As the story usually goes with contending teams, sometimes changes have to be made. William Nylander has the lone contract at forward that could bring in a difference maker (COULD) with no movement terms to his contract.

While many may want Nylander to be traded for players like Filip Forsberg, I feel like he would be best to trade for a younger, dependable defenseman.

Just as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens had a swap of Mikhail Sergachev for Jonathan Drouin, the Maple Leafs could look to do the same.

Maybe a swap of Nylander for Jakob Chychrun could be in the works. As Nylander isn’t necessarily needed on the roster with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner leading the way, he could be a first-line winger elsewhere.

Next. The Leafs Goalie Options and Dreams. dark

These are three decisions the Toronto Maple Leafs should consider to remain contenders in the Atlantic division. While they could not go with any of what I said and find cheap depth talent, I still feel like the scenarios I mentioned could turn things around for the Maple Leafs sooner rather than later.

Home / Analysis