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Maple Leafs Questions Remain Unanswered Ahead of Season

As the preseason moves on, the Toronto Maple Leafs have questions that need to be answered. What will happen to the team’s fourth line?

Continuing from yesterday’s practice analysis, I’ll examine some remaining unanswered questions surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs depth chart and salary cap management. The fourth line, the defense, goaltending, and the salary cap are all areas of concern just days away from the 2024-25 campaign.

Question One: What’s the Deal with Fourth Line?

The Maple Leafs’ fourth line, featuring Steven Lorentz, David Kämpf, and Ryan Reaves, could be where the team makes its most significant salary cap decisions. With younger, cheaper players vying for spots, the team must weigh performance against financial constraints. Is Lorentz’s position uncertain once Järnkrok returns? Could Kämpf lose his role if Holmberg continues to impress?

Related: What Is the Maple Leafs Coaching Staff Thinking Today?

Even Reaves’ role, though seemingly secure, could be impacted. Ultimately, the fourth line might be where the team makes critical moves to stay cap-compliant while determining the roster’s final makeup.

Question Two: Is Liljegren on the Outside Looking In?

Timothy Liljegren’s situation with the Maple Leafs is becoming increasingly uncertain. Despite his significant $3 million cap hit, Liljegren is listed behind Conor Timmins, who has outperformed him when healthy. With Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev leading the defense and the Oliver Ekman-LarssonJake McCabe pairing showing improvement, Liljegren might be considered expendable.

Maple Leafs Timothy Liljegren contract talks

If he continues to slide down the depth chart, the team may consider moving Liljegren. His movement could clear up salary-cap space immediately. And that’s a huge team need. While surprising, Liljegren’s future with the Maple Leafs could be on the fence. It doesn’t seem logical, but could a potential trade be on the horizon?

Question Three: Salary Cap and Injuries: LTIR Solutions

With Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar potentially starting the season on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), the Maple Leafs might get some breathing room in their salary cap. However, they will still need to clear additional space, likely by waiving a player or making a trade. Who will that be?

The early candidates seem to be Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf, but are others potentially prime for being moved?

Question Four: Goaltending Decisions Loom

The biggest question surrounding the Maple Leafs’ roster is whether the team will carry three goalies, as they did last season with Martin Jones. Matt Murray is a wild card. While he comes with a low cap hit, his health remains a concern. If he can return to his pre-injury form, there’s a case for keeping him, but it’s risky.

With Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz likely locked in as the top two netminders, Murray could be placed on waivers, though he’d almost certainly be claimed by another team. Whether the Maple Leafs will take that chance or carry a third goalie remains crucial as the season approaches.

Related: Timmins Among 3 Trade Names to Solve Maple Leafs’ Cap Crunch

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. gcmgome

    October 1, 2024 at 8:56 pm

    The Leafs placed Martin Jones on waivers on October 8th 2023, they did not carry 3 goalies to start the season. Much ado was made about his one way $875K salary which was league minimum with an $100K bonus payable in the event that he was waived.
    According to some, this was enough of a poison pill to discourage other teams not to claim him but I don’t buy it. I don’t see $100K being enough of a deterrent to stop a team needing a goalie from making a waiver claim. Both the Devils and the Bolts needed an experienced NHL goalie at the time so Jones was lucky to clear waivers.
    I don’t know how much at risk Matt Murray is of a waiver claim currently but just one injury in another team’s camp could make it a sure thing.
    As for Timothy Liljegren, his $3M x 2 yrs looks a lot more like a bridge deal than a sign and trade deal but we’ll see soon if he is in the team’s plans.

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