General manager Kyle Dubas will have some big roster decisions to make over the next week as defenceman Travis Dermott and forward Zach Hyman prepare to come off long-term injured reserve.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported Saturday on the Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada that the team will have to potentially clear four players from its roster in order to have the adequate salary cap space for both Dermott and Hyman.
Johnston says both players would be eligible to return next Saturday when the Maple Leafs travel to face the Montreal Canadiens. Dermott had shoulder surgery in the off-season and Hyman is recovering from an ACL tear suffered during last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Johnston says the moves Toronto needs to make could come in the form of a demotion to its AHL affiliate, waivers or trade.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Nic Petan is a likely candidate to leave the Maple Leafs, who are looking around for an alternate option for him.
Toronto acquired Petan from the Winnipeg Jets in February and signed him to a two-year contract extension in March which carries an average annual value of $775,000.
According to CapFriendly, Dermott is set to have a cap hit of $863,333 in the final year of his entry-level contract.
Hyman, meanwhile, is due to have a cap hit of $2.25 million.
