The Toronto Maple Leafs are off until February 22nd while the 4 Nations Face-Off goes down.
Between now and then, while the rest of us are enjoying some long overdue International Hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs brain-trust will be looking to improve their team ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
As it sits right now, the Leafs have basically no cap space (in fact, if their entire team, including Calle Jarnkrok was healthy, they would be about $2.5 million over the cap)
So clearly, if the Leafs want to improve, which they certainly do, they need to clear some bad contracts from their books.
Contracts That the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Shed at All Costs
Ideally, the Leafs will add centre Scott Laughton and defenseman Noah Dobson to their team to make a run at the Cup. They combine to make $7 million dollars. It is not realistic to expect salary retention on either player, considering their initial costs will be astronomical to begin with.
First, Calle Jarnkrok and his $2.1 have to go. He's a useful player, this shouldn't be too hard to accomplish.
Second, Connor Dewar's $1.18 also needs to go. He's one of the worst players in the NHL and there was no need for the Leafs to go beyond the league minimum for his contract. He is a pending UFA and I don't think it'd be too hard to get another team to take him.
But getting rid of those guys doesn't help much since they are on the IR right now and not counting against the cap *though they will be back, which is why they have to go*
The Leafs still need to make $7 million available to add their playoff upgrades.
Getting out of Max Domi's 4 x $3.5 contract would go a long way to doing so, and the fact is that getting out of this is going to be expensive. The Leafs will need to include Domi in any trade for a defenseman, Dobson or other, and that will make the trade more expensive.
There is no way around it though - they aren't adding to their team unless they trade Domi.
Finally, in order to fit Laughton the Leafs will have to ditch Ryan Reaves and David Kampf. Their combined salary will allow Laughton to fit, and neither will be missed. Holmberg and Steeves can take their spots, while Laughton on the 3rd line will be a nice little upgrade.
This activity really puts the Leafs situation in perspective: in order to add two players to their roster to help them win, they have to get rid of Jarnkrok, Dewar, Reaves, Domi and Kampf. Is dumping 25% of your roster at the trade deadline realistic?
Probably it isn't. And that is why the Leafs likely won't make a significant add and why they won't win a playoff series and while they'll have a new GM and President next season.