3 Reasons why Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup this year
No. 3: Trades and Rookies
As much as we want to look at the roster in August and make our predictions for April, this roster should look a lot different when the playoffs start. If it doesn't look different, GM Brad Treliving should be fired the day after the season ends because he has a ton of possibilities of how to improve this roster.
The first way to improve the roster is via trade. Nick Robertson is the team's biggest trade chip right now, but they also should be shopping David Kampf, Ryan Reaves, Calle Jarnkrok and/or Connor Timmins, who are all overpaid. Even if they flipped those players for cap-relief or draft picks, it would be a big win for this roster.
However, the biggest reason this team could have a true advantage is because of their rookies. If Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten can make the roster, their top-nine will be much improved. Not only will it be improved, but they'll have these players on Entry Level Contracts, giving them a huge advantage and ability to make a big splash up-front.
Kampf, Reaves, Janrkrok and Timmins represent roughly $7M of cap-space, which could then be used much more efficiantly (ie. Tyer Bertuzzi replacement). Toronto's top two lines are as good as any other roster, but it beings to falter in thier bottom six, but it doesn't mean they can't get there.
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They're very close to winning a Stanley Cup and if Treliving can make a few trades to improve this roster, the Leafs have a chance at winning a Stanley Cup this year.