Budsfan
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Thinning the Leafs roster will be a challenge over the summer
Leafs butting up against 50 roster-spot limit heading into draft and free agency. And waivers will be a factor for players like Stuart Percy and Josh Leivo.
By Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Tues., May 24, 2016
https://www.thestar.com/sports/brea...ster-will-be-a-challenge-over-the-summer.html
Leafs butting up against 50 roster-spot limit heading into draft and free agency. And waivers will be a factor for players like Stuart Percy and Josh Leivo.
By Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Tues., May 24, 2016
https://www.thestar.com/sports/brea...ster-will-be-a-challenge-over-the-summer.html
The Maple Leafs have an interesting dilemma to work through this summer.
And for a team that will draft a ton of prospects this summer, the problem will only get stickier in time.
It's roster spots. Teams can have 50 players under NHL contracts playing professionally. (Players who have signed NHL deals but are in junior are exempt from the 50 roster spots.)
Last season, butting up against the max, the Leafs traded five prospects (mid-to-low-level) to the New York Islanders for Michael Grabner. It was a salary dump by the Islanders, who didn't want to play Grabner the $5 million he was owed. It opened up four roster spots for the Leafs.
But the draft hasn't even happened, and the Leafs are butting up against that 50 again.
They currently have 35 players under contract for 2016-17 -- including Mitch Marner, Nielsen, Travis Dermott, Dmytro Timashov, all of whom are eligible to return to junior next year -- so they have some wiggle room.
But Marner looks like he's done all he can in junior, so he's nearly a lock to start with the Leafs in October. Dermott, Timashov and Nielsen are all eligible to play for the Marlies next season.
And there are 10 restricted free agents they're going to have to make a call on, which gets you to 45. Throw in Auston Matthews, who's certain to be on the list, and you're at 46.
They've said they'll buy out Jared Cowen, so you're back at 45.
And there are nine unrestricted free agents, which brings them to 54.
WHAT TO DO?
read at link ...
WAIVER WIRE
more at link ...
Five-for-one, anyone?
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