For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter In planning for the upcoming trade deadline, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is not only looking at upgrades that will help his club achieve success in the next four-to-five months, but also trying to plan ahead for the next several years by managing the roster and taking the salary cap into consideration. The focus on the future is central in a couple of themes that Dubas has mentioned in recent weeks; his preference to acquire players before February 25 that have term remaining on their contracts and the hope of getting restricted free agents like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner signed before next summer. The reason for both is pretty straight forward. If the Leafs have to give up prime assets to improve their club, they want that upgrade to be for multiple years and not just a temporary solution. Once the Leafs get Matthews and Marner locked up on extensions, Dubas can determine how much maneuvering room he will have going forward and make corresponding adjustments.
Pretty neat move by Auston Matthews to rep Marleau in San Jose pic.twitter.com/jzpzUmG7oF
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) January 26, 2019
With no additions via trade or re-signing their unrestricted free agents, this is what the #Leafs blueline will look like going into next summer. pic.twitter.com/wnMMjGOobD
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) January 26, 2019
This was a fun collabo. #TheLeafsConvo #LeafsForever @MikeInBuffalo https://t.co/HAmH6SkQ6Y
— Norman James (@NormanJamesTLC) January 25, 2019