There was an article circulated this summer ...I think Forbes ...that said the 200 per year deal was, at minimum, expected to double. So, if true, that's 100 milly into the player/cap pool ....so an extra 3-4 milly per team as a 1 time bump.

Maybe nothing huge but every nickel is going to help the Leafs repeat as Cup champs in 2021.
- The Law

I can get on board with that.
My argument wasnt that it wont increase, of course it will. I just dont feel it will be a huge increase unless changes are made in the cba.
Hope im wrong.

Seattle and a new US TV deal will raise the cap in the next few years anyway. The small increase this year will not be the norm.
- Zezel

Don't forget the new gambling deal.

Don't forget the new gambling deal.
- GreatGigInTheSky

That might be the dark horse. Maybe.

Getting started on what?? 5 UFA's on defense next year. As was always the case with the Leafs the past few years, they need defense, so unless you win it all this year, you will have to start all over again next year!! Your cap space is so tight you couldnt buy a popcorn at the Garden. Barrie's next contract will be 8+. Good luck fitting that under your Cap!!
- Brukie

People who know nothing about the Leafs really shouldn't talk about them like they do.

Yeah, Rielly is the only guy signed right now. But Dermott won't be hard to sign. Liljegren and Sandin should (most likely will) be a part of the team. And one of Barrie and Muzzin could also be back. Boom. 4 or 5 guys now.

Look at that. I took me all of 30 seconds to squash everything you said and that's only because I'm a slow typer.

I never thought nor think Andersen is a top goalie in the league.

Price, Gibson, Holtby, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy and a few others are better.

Andersen is in the Dubnyk category.

And I think backup goalie is a very very important position.
- MaximusAurelius

Well agree to disagree about Andersen. Agree a backup is important but most teams live or die by their starter.

- AdamFrench

Don't forget the new gambling deal.
- GreatGigInTheSky

I thought of that but I don't know if the money already kicked in or not.

For me, Marners deal is an overpayment.

Nylanders will be a bargain and Matthews is just right.

They are all long term...the thinking here is probably to minimize money spent for when Rielly, Andersen gets their deals.
-Santo_44

Yes but where is that money coming from? Horton and Clarkson are a wash with Marners contract. Muzzin, Barrie and Ceci are all up for renewal next season. Ceci is gone for sure but I can guarantee the Leafs can only keep one of Muzzin or Barrie plus the Cap limit is rumoured to be frozen for the next 2 years.

Leafs projected Cap space for next season is 15 mill. The Leafs have 1 Dman past next season. It is not going to be easy.

I also dont see Marner's deal as an overpayment. 11 mill was the expectation he got a little less than that. Marner also confirmed he got two offersheets and declined both because he wanted to be a Leaf, he also confirmed there was no 7 year 77 mill offer.

Leafs have some great young players but its a team game. Having Marner Matthews and Nylander is great but unless there is a balance across the entire team they wont win. McDavid being the best player in the league cant even get his team to the playoffs alone.

East is scary this season.

I mean, Grundstrom is a good prospect and I think will be a good NHL'er.

I don't like that he was a part of the trade. But I'm glad we got Muzzin. He was good last year and he'll be good again this year.
- GreatGigInTheSky

I don't think Grundstrom would make the Leafs roster.

Well agree to disagree about Andersen. Agree a backup is important but most teams live or die by their starter.
- Zezel

Do you think he's better than any of those 5 mentioned?

nothing wrong with the 'average in net statement'.
andersen isn't top10 (or maybe just make it as 9th/10th goalie in league, depending on the year)
backup goalie situation leafs are probably bottom 5 in league.
so that's quite average.
- MaximusAurelius

Only because you are awful at evaluating goalies.

You still think Cory Schneider is better or did him going over a full calendar year without a win push him just below Andersen now?

Can't wait to see how Weber looks with a full summer of training instead of being injured.

Should be a big boost to the whole blueline.
- Scabeh

I really liked Grundstrom
- Gunslinger

Me too.

Do you think he's better than any of those 5 mentioned?
- MaximusAurelius

Not better, but in the conversation with them. Certainly solidly in the top ten, potential Vezina-worthy mix.

I never thought nor think Andersen is a top goalie in the league.

Price, Gibson, Holtby, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy and a few others are better.

Andersen is in the Dubnyk category.

And I think backup goalie is a very very important position.
- MaximusAurelius

5v5 GSAA (min 2500 minutes)

1. Gibson (18.66) <-- Holy Christ
2. Andersen (9.88)
3. Rinne (9.64)
4. Holtby (8.41)
5. Markstrom (3.92)
6. Vasilievskiy (0.98)
7. Price (0.77)
8. Bobrovsky (0.2)
12. Dubnyk (-19.14)

Now, the Leafs PK was pretty weak, but when you consider all states, and not just 5v5, keeping min 2500 minutes:

1. Gibson
2. Bishop
3. Lehner
4. Markstrom
5. Kuemper
6. Vasilievskiy
7. Rinne
8. Murray
9. Andersen
10. Holtby
11. Fleury
12. Bobrovsky
13. Price
.
.
.
24. Dubnyk.

5v5 GSAA (min 2500 minutes)

1. Gibson (18.66) <-- Holy Christ
2. Andersen (9.88)
3. Rinne (9.64)
4. Holtby (8.41)
5. Markstrom (3.92)
6. Vasilievskiy (0.98)
7. Price (0.77)
8. Bobrovsky (0.2)
12. Dubnyk (-19.14)

Now, the Leafs PK was pretty weak, but when you consider all states, and not just 5v5, keeping min 2500 minutes:

1. Gibson
2. Bishop
3. Lehner
4. Markstrom
5. Kuemper
6. Vasilievskiy
7. Rinne
8. Murray
9. Andersen
10. Holtby
11. Fleury
12. Bobrovsky
13. Price
.
.
.
24. Dubnyk.
- Monkeypunk

Interesting.

5v5 GSAA (min 2500 minutes)

1. Gibson (18.66) <-- Holy Christ
2. Andersen (9.88)
3. Rinne (9.64)
4. Holtby (8.41)
5. Markstrom (3.92)
6. Vasilievskiy (0.98)
7. Price (0.77)
8. Bobrovsky (0.2)
12. Dubnyk (-19.14)

Now, the Leafs PK was pretty weak, but when you consider all states, and not just 5v5, keeping min 2500 minutes:

1. Gibson
2. Bishop
3. Lehner
4. Markstrom
5. Kuemper
6. Vasilievskiy
7. Rinne
8. Murray
9. Andersen
10. Holtby
11. Fleury
12. Bobrovsky
13. Price
.
.
.
24. Dubnyk.
- Monkeypunk

when I mention Dubnyk as an example, I don't mean last season Dubnyk.
I mean 2014 to 2016 Dubnyk when he was playing on a similar good level as Andersen.
None of them are top5 NHL goalies though.

I don't think Grundstrom would make the Leafs roster.
- PatC80

I was thinking about that, because I agree - I liked Grundstrom. I saw him as a logical replacement for Komarov who could maybe score a bit more. Sort of a good example of how some players can take longer to develop than you think, and others can decline faster than you think.

He'd probably be in a battle with Mikheyev for a top-9 LW position.

has anyone even considered that the leafs are in cap hell because it it nhlpa opt out today?

when I mention Dubnyk as an example, I don't mean last season Dubnyk.
I mean 2014 to 2016 Dubnyk when he was playing on a similar good level as Andersen.
None of them are top5 NHL goalies though.
- MaximusAurelius

You know Dubnyk was 3rd in Vezina voting in 2014 and 5th in Vezina voting in 2016.

Sort of makes him a top 5 goalie in the time period you're isolating.

Yes but where is that money coming from? Horton and Clarkson are a wash with Marners contract. Muzzin, Barrie and Ceci are all up for renewal next season. Ceci is gone for sure but I can guarantee the Leafs can only keep one of Muzzin or Barrie plus the Cap limit is rumoured to be frozen for the next 2 years.

Leafs projected Cap space for next season is 15 mill. The Leafs have 1 Dman past next season. It is not going to be easy.

I also dont see Marner's deal as an overpayment. 11 mill was the expectation he got a little less than that. Marner also confirmed he got two offersheets and declined both because he wanted to be a Leaf, he also confirmed there was no 7 year 77 mill offer.

Leafs have some great young players but its a team game. Having Marner Matthews and Nylander is great but unless there is a balance across the entire team they wont win. McDavid being the best player in the league cant even get his team to the playoffs alone.

East is scary this season.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

It is a team game, but star power is paramount.
Agree that they can keep only one of Muzzin or Barrie
There are at least 2 dmen close to ready to joining the big club. If we do not see them this season, it will be next.

Rielly, Muzzin/Barrie, Dermott, Liljegren, Sandin + some Scrap heap pickup, would be my prediction.

The east has a lot of good teams. People have called the Leafs a failure for not getting past round 1 the last 3 years, but let's keep in mind how young their best players are, and how good Washington and Boston were during that time. It is tough for ANYONE to win the east. Tampa has been favoured for how long now?

You know Dubnyk was 3rd in Vezina voting in 2014 and 5th in Vezina voting in 2016.

Sort of makes him a top 5 goalie in the time period you're isolating.
- Monkeypunk

Definitely food for thought.

I kinda miss the days you could just be happy you have a good player on your team and not wonder if his cap hit is good enough compared to his production.
- Scabeh

I have always wanted to see the Leafs win, of course, but I was happy when the cap was brought in. At least I would not feel like they "bought" a championship. Being a Jays fan in the division with New York and Boston makes a lot of people sensitive to how poopty that can be.

Having said all that, I am also sick of thinking more about cap implications than having good players.

I can get on board with that.
My argument wasnt that it wont increase, of course it will. I just dont feel it will be a huge increase unless changes are made in the cba.
Hope im wrong.
- Fakepartofme

It's just a reality check for the trolls. If the standard annual inflationary increases occur and a modest bump from Seattle ...then by 2022 the Cap is going to be about 95 million.

Even next summer with only Rielly signed, assuming the bottom pairing is young guys or cheap vets, they'll have about 13 million to sign Dermott and replace Muzzin/Barrie.

If I were Dubas I'd think about getting Dermott extended once he's back and has settled in ( and before he hoists the Cup in June). Unless he has a big year he's not going to cost more than 3m on a short term deal.

Muzzin will be 30+ ...time to move on. And Barrie may very well price himself out. Either way they can find a pair of top 4 guys for 10 milly.

I don't really see any cap issues over the next two years. It'll be tight but manageable.

Summer of 21' Anderson and Hyman are up. In a perfect world the Leafs would have a cheap young 'tender pushing his way up.

5v5 GSAA (min 2500 minutes)

1. Gibson (18.66) <-- Holy Christ
2. Andersen (9.88)
3. Rinne (9.64)
4. Holtby (8.41)
5. Markstrom (3.92)
6. Vasilievskiy (0.98)
7. Price (0.77)
8. Bobrovsky (0.2)
12. Dubnyk (-19.14)

Now, the Leafs PK was pretty weak, but when you consider all states, and not just 5v5, keeping min 2500 minutes:

1. Gibson
2. Bishop
3. Lehner
4. Markstrom
5. Kuemper
6. Vasilievskiy
7. Rinne
8. Murray
9. Andersen
10. Holtby
11. Fleury
12. Bobrovsky
13. Price
.
.
.
24. Dubnyk.
- Monkeypunk

Problem with this is that goalies are not easily to rank based on stats. A goalies success heavily relies on his team. If the team gives up grade A scoring chances often, his numbers will suffer, however if the team keeps them to the perimeter and the goalie faces easy shots, his numbers will rise. People like to look at the number of shots per game but you have to consider the quality of shots. 40 shots from the perimeter is not dangerous. I believe Dubnyk is easily a better goalie than Kuemper, Markstrom, Murray maybe even Rinne.

It is really hard to make a list of the top 10 because there are so many good goalies out there.