bernmeister
Registered User
How are they in cap hell? The Leafs aren't trying to unload contracts so the entire premise of your post is absurd.
Did we suddenly wake up in a parallel universe, one in which the chatter as to TOR is not about how to deal w/reality that they have a handful of top, top $$$$$ players taking up a huge chunk of the cap?
Obv Matthews and MM and the sensibly priced Nylander make sense. But as CHI is seeing w/Kane and Toews, adding beyond that can be a backbreaker (Seabrook).
But the above trio makes sense, JT at his # does not, and that indulgence is forcing the premise of the OP, which YOU not I, are choosing to ignore.
Leafs are too top heavy. they either have to squeeze more mileage out the middle or deal a guy from the top [of those 4 Nylander is the only match b'c most other teams can't afford/won't pay for the corresponding cap hit].
It is unlikely someone will trade you a better 1m guy for a lesser guy same price. And if it happens, not only is it the exception to the rule, there is usually some x factor below the surface. Such is an anomaly.
Hence, a likely need to move a quality guy for depth.
Hence, premise is not absurd.