Step Five: Clear the Decks
The final step to my off-season plan is to clear the decks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have too many expensive players who don't live up to their contracts.
No, I'm not talking about their stars. I'm talking about their non-stars who barely contribute any more than a random replacement player would.
Calle Jarnkrok is getting up there. He has been a useful addition, but it is time to give his roster spot to a younger, cheaper, more hungry player.
David Kampf is the NHL's most expensive fourth liner. He needs to go.
Ryan Reaves and Conor Timmins do not have a future in Toronto and need to go.
Incredibly, moving out all four will save the Leafs $6.95 Million. That's enough to pay 80% of Zach Werenski's contract.
The best part? Losing all four wouldn't even make the Leafs worse. These players are not worth their combined cap space.
Step Six: Re-Sign the RFAs
The Toronto Maple Leafs need to lock up Nick Robertson and Timothy Liljegren to team-friendly contract extensions.
Both players are far more valuable to the Leafs than they are in a trade, and both should provide a lot of value on their next contracts.
That is it. To recap: Relax during the free-agent frenzy, don't trade Marner, do trade for Saros and Werenski, re-sign Robertson and Liljegren, re-sign Domi and Bertuzzi if cheap enough and clear out the team's four stupid contracts.
It couldn't be easier!