It would be a good argument to debate who will be most valuable to the Toronto Maple Leafs next season. Frederik Andersen at times covered up for the club’s wanting defensive play with Vezina Trophy-level goaltending and legitimate cases could be made for Mitch Marner, John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly, but the name that few will mention is Brandon Pridham.
The Leafs Assistant GM and cap guru will have his expertise put to the test next season, with the club having to fit in Mitch Marner’s new deal. Toronto is currently $3.76 Million under the cap, but that does not include the club’s flexibility to go 10% over the $81.5 Million limit during the summer.
Assuming that Marner gets signed before the regular season, the Leafs will definitely be using long-term injured reserve to open up more space. LTIR can only be used if the Leafs exceed $81.5 Million to get under the cap, which means that Nathan Horton’s $5.3 Million salary and potentially the salaries of Zach Hyman ($2.5 Million) and Travis Dermott ($863,333) could go there depending on Hyman and Dermott’s health status at the end of training camp and how much Marner signs for.
Day-by-day management of the cap is where Pridham will be valuable. NHL clubs can carry up to 23 players on the NHL roster, but it is highly probable that the Leafs will go with less players to stay under the cap and use the close proximity of the Toronto Marlies as an advantage.
After cutting down prior to the start of the regular season, when players like Martin Marincin, Justin Holl or Ben Harpur have to be placed on waivers to go down to the American Hockey League, during stretches when they are at home, the club could conceivably carry the minimum of 20 players and avoid the cost of having reserve players count against the cap. When on the road, the Leafs would likely increase the number to 22 to have one reserve forward and defenseman available.
If this is part of the Leafs plan for 2019-20, expect them to be a regular presence on the daily NHL transaction list.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»