BY ALIN MATEESCU – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
With the NHL and NHLPA reaching an agreement in principle on a new CBA, it is now time to examine each team’s roster as they head into a likely 48 game season. Here is my look at the Toronto Maple Leafs and the possible questions facing their roster, their cap space, their unrestricted free agents and their restricted free agents. Salary cap and cap space provided by capgeek.com.
Salary Cap: $63,485,833 (11)
Cap Space: $6,714,167
Players Signed: 22
UFA: D – Jeff Finger
RFA: D – Cody Franson
As with the Bruins, the Leafs’ biggest question mark is about their goaltending. Rumours have linked the club to a trade with the Vancouver Canucks for goaltender Roberto Luongo. Since Luongo owns a no-trade clause, he would have to approve a trade out of Vancouver. While he has made it public that he would do just that if he were to be moved to the Panthers — his wife is from south Florida — it’s still unclear whether he would be so amicable for a move to a hockeycrazy market like Toronto.
While Luongo has a $5.3 million salary cap hit until the end of the 2021-22 season, it’s believed that Canucks GM Mike Gillis is looking to make a hockey deal in any trade he makes involving his netminder. If the Leafs want Luongo they may have to put the likes of Nazem Kadri in play as part of a package.
Aside from goaltending, the Leafs also need a front-line centre, though they may have to wait until the off-season to acquire one unless teams with current or future cap troubles approach them with a deal. Unlike a club like the Senators, the Leafs are one team that would surely take full advantage of their financial muscle.
Alin Mateescu is a full-time Front-end Web Developer with a passion for Online Marketing, Digital Media, and Web Development. Web Strategist. Sports junkie. Creator of iTalkHockey blog network. Managing Editor at RumorMeThis.com and RumorMeThat.com. Find out more about me at about.me/alinmat
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