This year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs have been most excellent. Both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals were decided in seven games, right down to the wire, just how we like it. The Finals have been wild so far with Tampa Bay being up two games to one after three. Either team could have won any of the first three games thus far; but the Lightning seems to be playing up a level over Chicago at this point. Be sure to tune in tonight for game four as it should be a doozy, I expect Stamkos and both Kane and Toews to finally make an impact after a slow start production wise in this series.
I’ve done some research looking around the League to see what teams were going to be struggling cap wise next season. There are a lot more teams tight up against the salary cap than I had first thought. There are a few different avenues that can be looked at when going over other teams problems. The possibility of using an offer sheet is one of them, but perhaps not the way Shanahan and the boys want to go about things to start off this rebuild. There are other options for the Leafs though as they embark in this rebuild phase, whether they acquire a player who has a bad contract for a few seasons and in return get a quality prospect or draft pick. Other options could include trades or free agent signings if the scenario fits the master plan, or ‘Shanaplan’.
There are a few teams I have listed who also don’t have a backup goalie signed at this point, which not only eats up salary in the big picture, but possibly opens the exit door for either Bernier or Reimer. It’s quite a risk moving Bernier at this point, but Reimer has just one year left on his contract making just over two million dollars. Again, all cards should be laid on the table and scoured over by Shanahan, Dubas, Babcock and Hunter as they try to put together a winning hand.
The Leafs have $21 547 500 in salary before capping out next season.
Some potential teams to look at who could struggle with the salary cap next season consist of:
Boston – (cap space as of now) 4,892,857
Dougie Hamilton (RFA) Carl Soderberg (UFA) No Backup signed as of now
Gregory Campbell (UFA), Daniel Paille (UFA), Brett Connolly (RFA), Ryan Spooner (RFA), Adam McQuaid (UFA), Matt Bartkowski (UFA)
Chicago - (cap space as of now) 4,954,871
Marcus Kruger (RFA) Brandon Saad (RFA) Johnny Oduya (UFA) Brad Richards (UFA)
Antoine Vermette (UFA), Andrew Desjardins (UFA), Joakim Nordstrom (RFA), Daniel Carcillo (UFA), Kimmo Timonen (UFA), Michal Rozsival (UFA), David Rundblad (RFA)
Detroit - (cap space as of now) 12,425,455
Gustav Nyquist (RFA) Tomas Jurco (RFA) Landon Ferraro (RFA) Brendan Smith (RFA) Marek Zidlicky (UFA)
Stephen Weiss (4.9 cap hit) x3 years – possible bad contract to take on
Los Angeles - (cap space as of now) 4,885,606
Tyler Toffoli (RFA) Jarret Stoll (UFA) Justin Williams (UFA) (G) Martin Jones (RFA)
Nick Shore (RFA), Andy Andreoff (RFA), Robyn Regehr (UFA), Andrej Sekera (UFA), Jamie McBain (UFA)
Mike Richards (5.75 cap hit) x5 years – possible bad contract to take on
Minnesota - (cap space as of now) 7,811,991
Mikael Granlund (RFA) Kyle Brodziak (UFA) Sean Bergenheim (UFA) Chris Stewart (UFA) (G) Devan Dubnyk (UFA)
Erik Haula (RFA), Ryan Carter (UFA), Keith Ballard (UFA), Jordan Leopold (UFA), Nate Prosser (UFA)
Montreal - (cap space as of now) 4,725,000
Alex Galchenyuk (RFA) Michael Bournival (RFA) Nathan Beaulieu (RFA)
Torrey Mitchell (UFA), Manny Malhotra (UFA), Brian Flynn (RFA), Sergei Gonchar (UFA), Mike Weaver (UFA)
P.A. Parenteau (4 cap hit) x1 year – possible bad contract to take on
New York Rangers - (cap space as of now) 9,500,000
Derek Stepan (RFA) Carl Hagelin (RFA) J.T. Miller (RFA) Jesper Fast (RFA) Martin St Louis (UFA)
James Sheppard (UFA), Oscar Lindberg (RFA), Carl Klingberg (RFA), Matt Hunwick (UFA)
Philadelphia - (cap space as of now) 4,545,833
Michael Del Zotto (RFA) (G) Ray Emery (UFA)
Jason Akeson (RFA), Chris Vande Velde (UFA), Ryan White (UFA), Carlo Colaiacovo (UFA)
Vincent Lecavalier (4.5 cap hit) x 3 years – possible bad contract to take on RJ Umberger (4.6 cap hit) x 2 years – possible bad contract to take on
*10 draft picks in this year’s draft*
Pittsburgh - (cap space as of now) 11,268,333
Ian Cole (RFA) Christian Ehrhoff (UFA) Steve Downie (UFA) Beau Bennett (RFA) Paul Martin (UFA) (G)Thomas Greiss (UFA)
Maxim Lapierre (UFA), Craig Adams (UFA), Blake Comeau (UFA), Daniel Winnik (UFA), Brian Dumoulin (RFA), Taylor Chorney (UFA)
Vancouver – (cap space as of now) 3,205,833
Shawn Matthias (UFA), Brad Richardson (UFA), Sven Baertschi (RFA), Linden Vey (RFA), Ronalds Kenins (RFA), Brandon McMillan (RFA), Yannick Weber (RFA), Henrik Tommernes (RFA), Alex Biega (UFA), Frank Corrado (RFA), Ryan Stanton (RFA), Jacob Markstrom (RFA)
As you can see, a lot of players to resign or let go in Vancouver with not a lot of wiggle room.
After seeing this list of teams I’ve compiled with salary cap issues, hopefully that expands your mind enough to look at some viable options for the Leafs this off season.
I can only imagine all of the hockey minds in Toronto’s upper management going through numerous rosters looking at potential players to pinch from teams who may have their hands tied. Are there any teams or players in particular that stand out to you that you think the Leafs should go after through trade or free agency? Does Shanahan dare use an offer sheet on a player like Dougie Hamilton? Looking forward to hearing some discussion about possible avenues the Maple Leafs should attempt to meddle with.
Thanks for reading, enjoy tonight’s Stanley Cup Finals!