The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have to trade a forward

The Toronto Maple Leafs are quietly getting healthier right now with forwards coming back from injuries.

Right now, they're cap-compliant. After trading Timothy Liljegren, the Toronto Maple Leafs currently have just over $3 million dollars in cap space with Connor Dewar, Calle Jarnkrok and Jani Hakanpaa on long-term injury reserve (Salary cap statistics from PuckPedia.com).

While that's fine for now, it looks as though both Connor Dewar and Calle Jarnkrok are close to making a return. Dewar is making 1.8 million dollars this year and Jarnkrok is making 2.1 million dollars. Even with Liljegren gone, the Leafs can't fit everyone in.

Unless there is an injury coming in the future, the Leafs will be well over the cap while trying to fit both these players onto the active roster. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have to trade a forward

There has been rotation in the lineup this season on both the defense as well as the offense.

While it has been interesting, and I think it is beneficial to have this internal competition, it won't be able to last forever. The bottom line is Brad Treliving will be forced to make a move just for the Leafs to fit under the salary cap. 

There are quite a few candidates for trade that would get the Leafs under the cap if they were to be moved so Treliving has some options.

Starting at the forward core, I think the first place you look at is David Kampf. Kampf is currently in his second year of a four-year deal where he makes an average annual value of 2.4 million. That contract was bad from the second it was signed. Giving a guy who is a pure defensive specialist with little offensive production is a terrible use of money. Holmberg has struggled, but I believe he could fill the Kampf role and do as well for a cheaper price.

The next candidate could be Ryan Reaves. Watching Reaves play is fun, I'll always have a bit of a soft spot for a fighter. The problem is Reaves makes 1.35 million and the Leafs lose when he plays. There is no reason to have him on the team anymore.

Another option for Treliving could be trading Jarnkrok himself. I'm not sure if that would be the option I pick because I think Jarnkrok brings value to this team. He brings speed, can penalty kill and is a good defensive forward while also being able to provide some offense.

The Leafs have too many forwards and are over the salary cap, so expect something to happen shortly.