Toronto Maple Leafs

[2014olympicgold]

Mikheyev is exempt.

Whoops ya you're right

Maybe they're setting up for the potential of a trade? They still need to expose 2 forwards for the draft. So I guess that's the reasoning behind signing Spezza and Simmonds now. If they signed and get protected I'll be shocked.

[tweetdrivr]

There are still a number of pending UFAs they can sign for cheap and expose...they protect Spezza?

[2014olympicgold]

Well they can only sign UFAs that are on their team that would be eligible to be exposed as a forward.

Thornton, Galchenyuk, Nash, Foligno, Hyma.

Hyman and Thornton are prolly gone. Chucky, Nash, and Foligno who knows what they want. Does seem rushed but maybe that's the reasoning behind the June signings of Simmonds and Spezza.

I can't see Leafs messing up a signing or potential other moves by signing simmonds early. But weirder things have happened.

[Invictus]

Maybe they think they can sign Hyman?

[PenguinHunter]

2yrs is so weird to get that done now. I don't get the rush for this.

He definitely doesn't deserve more than Spezza but he took way less than he could have. But Simmonds should have just gone with the same deal, or the Leafs should have said "Spezza set the standard. This is what our Vets will get"

They probably offered Simmonds the extra money to ensure they have someone to throw down if needed.

[2014olympicgold]

Andersen's agent had a talk with TML management, and Andersen is willing to return to the team and work as a tandem with Campbell. It's still a bit of a longshot for Andersen fitting under the cap, but hurdle one has been jumped and that's Andersen's willingness to play for the Leafs, and work as a tandem with Campbell.

Still doubt he's a Leaf next yr though.

[Invictus]

Maybe if it's a 1 year contract....

[kovalchuk17]

the goalie carousel isnt very fun at times. few goalies today can command like 70% of the starts so it looks like freddy has seen the light regarding his value.

clearly he likes it there if hes willing to take less dollars and a smaller role than hes used to. im not sure itll be worth it still for the leafs.

[Invictus]

There are still a number of pending UFAs they can sign for cheap and expose...they protect Spezza?

They won't protect Spezza. Spezza has already said he'd retire before playing for any other team.

[2014olympicgold]

Just some dates for us:

July 17 - Protected List Submission date
July 21 - NHL Expansion Draft
July 23 - NHL Draft (1st Round)
July 24 - NHL Draft (2-7 Round)
July 28 - NHL FA starts
September 8 - 2021-22 Start Date.

[Invictus]

Leafs need to sign another F to go 7/3 or another D to go 4/4.
If they don't I guess they will have to forfeit a protection.

[2014olympicgold]

Something tells me they were planning on Chucky or Nash to sign, but they changed their mind.

Still a lot of time left to sign someone tho.

[Dennis]

They can also just go 7-3 and protect different players than you've chosen to meet the forward exposure requirement.

You are correct that they currently don't have a d-man to meet exposure requirements if they protect all of Reilly, Muzzin, Brodie, and Holl but they have time to re-sign Hutton, Bogo or Dermott to meet that.

[2014olympicgold]

The Leafs can trade a nothing prospect for a player a team would be exposing anyways.

I think the Leafs go heavy into the non-qualified RFA market which would be they can let low level prospects go.

[2014olympicgold]

Leafs extend Dermott. 2yrs, 1.5mill/yr