After the Toronto Maple Leafs officially signed Jani Hakanpaa, the team now finds themselves with an overload on defense. However, this signing has also pushed the Maple Leafs over the salary cap, with PuckPedia reporting that they are over by a little more than $1 million. With the potential addition of Max Pacioretty looming, the salary cap issue could become even more pressing. As the minimum wage for an NHL player is $775,000, signing Pacioretty would require Toronto to free up even more salary cap space to finalize their NHL roster.
In terms of defensive depth, the Leafs have a plethora of options beyond Hakanpaa. Players like Dakota Mermis and Philippe Myers were brought in on two-way deals, with most of their time expected to be spent in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. Still, they are valuable assets that can step in when needed. Conor Timmins and Marshall Rifai are also quality depth defensemen within the organization, with Timmins being a reliable fill-in for injured players on the Leafs. Rifai, on the other hand, signed a contract extension in the offseason, indicating the team’s faith in his abilities.
To make room for Pacioretty, Toronto will need to make some tough decisions regarding their roster. One option could be to bury Timmins’ contract in the minors and put him on waivers, but this alone may not be enough. Trading away Timothy Liljegren, a defenseman who could free up $3 million in cap space, is another possibility. However, this move comes with risks, especially considering Hakanpaa’s health concerns following a knee injury.
Alternatively, there is speculation that the Maple Leafs could place Hakanpaa on injured reserve to start the season, buying them some time to sort out their salary cap situation and allow Hakanpaa to fully recover. The upcoming training camp promises to be competitive, with potential injuries and other unforeseen circumstances that could impact the roster decisions.
Overall, the Maple Leafs are facing a challenge in balancing their defense and salary cap constraints. The coming weeks will be crucial as they make decisions to shape their roster for the upcoming season. It will be interesting to see how the team navigates these challenges and ultimately solidifies their lineup for the start of the season.
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