The Toronto Maple Leafs just wrapped up a crucial round of cuts, and here’s the kicker: absolutely everyone cleared waivers. That’s a huge win for the front office, getting all that business squared away before the team even had to fly out to Arizona just to grab Auston Matthews’ massive wardrobe for the season. Seriously, 84 games worth of designer threads, gotta have ’em ready to go. But don’t let the fashion show distract you, there’s some real serious stuff happening with this roster before opening night.
Injuries Are Already Making Waves
Things are already getting shaken up, and we haven’t even dropped the puck yet. The Leafs are dealing with four key injuries right out of the gate. Max Domi is starting the season on LTIR, which is a major blow. Nick Paul has an undisclosed injury, and it’s looking like he might not even make the season opener. Dakota Joshua is battling some kind of core injury, and his status is totally up in the air. Then there’s William Villeneuve, who just had surgery and is recovering, so he’ll be on SOIR to kick things off.
These injuries aren’t just bumps and bruises; they’re already forcing roster changes. With Paul and Joshua sidelined, and Steven Lorentz apparently not gelling with the new coach or GM, Zack MacEwen is on the roster. Plus, Bo Groulx actually vaulted over Lorentz, stepping into that temporary fill-in role for Paul. And watch out for Nick Blankenburg, who’s on a PTO, but everyone’s expecting him to sign a proper contract super soon. On top of that, Tinus Luc Koblar got loaned back to Rögle of the SHL, even though the team hasn’t officially announced it yet. All these moving pieces mean the guys are scrambling right now.
Cap Space: It’s All About That LTIR Pool
Now, let’s talk about the money, because it’s a tight squeeze. Per Puckpedia, the Leafs are sitting at 49 SPCs, and the cap situation is pure chaos. Their total cap hit, including the buried Steven Lorentz and William Villeneuve’s SOIR, adds up to a staggering $106,408,241. That means they’re actually over the cap by -$2,408,241 right now. Yikes!
But here’s where Max Domi on LTIR becomes a lifeline. His $3,750,000 LTIR pool creates an “overall space” of $1,341,759. That’s not a ton, but it’s something. They can even expand that space if they put Villeneuve on LTIR until he’s ready to be waived. The thing is, this space is going to shrink when Blankenburg gets signed, and then again when Paul and Joshua are ready to play. With 25 players currently on the roster and Domi on LTIR, they still need to cut one more player to get down to 23. My bet’s on Groulx being the guy who gets sent down once the injured players start returning. The good news is, the cap space and LTIR room means they can handle minor IR stints for eight defenders, 13 forwards, and their goalies.
This early season cap gymnastics and injury shuffle means every single game is going to be a battle, not just on the ice, but for roster spots. Who knows what this team will even look like when they’re fully healthy. It’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
Leave a Reply