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The Toronto Maple Leafs’ strategy could shift dramatically this season due to an alarming number of serious injuries.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are barely hanging on in the Eastern Conference playoff race. In a typical season, they would likely be far from a playoff spot. However, the surprisingly tight competition in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference overall has kept the Leafs close to securing a postseason place.
But with news that Chris Tanev might be out for the rest of the season, it could force the Maple Leafs to reconsider their approach.
Currently, the team is missing two key defensemen in Tanev and Brandon Carlo. Additionally, Jake Mc Cabe exited Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders during the third period. There’s no update yet on Mc Cabe’s injury, but things aren’t looking great.
This situation means that the Maple Leafs will need to decide on their next steps. As noted by The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta in a January 4 article, there may be some cap space available for them to utilize.
This potential comes from possibly placing Tanev and Dakota Joshua on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR). It’s important to mention that this season’s new regulations cap LTIR allocations at $3.8 million based on last year’s average.
Thus, they can either use $3.8 million or Tanev’s $4.5 million cap hit. Meanwhile, Joshua’s full cap hit of $3.25 million could help bring another player onboard. If both players go on LTIR, that gives them just over $7 million to work with.
While that might be enough for one solid player, it may not fully solve all their issues.
Maple Leafs Might Place Tanev and Joshua on LTIR
Here’s where it gets tricky. The Maple Leafs can’t exploit past loopholes related to LTIR that gained so much attention before. Under previous rules, teams could use LTIR during the regular season to add players without penalties since there was no playoff salary cap; they could easily exceed regular-season limits once playoffs began.
A recent example includes last year when Florida Panthers activated Matthew Tkachuk and Edmonton Oilers had Evander Kane come back late in the season.
This year is different; if Toronto places Tanev or Joshua on LTIR now, they won’t be able to activate them during playoffs even if they’re compliant with salary caps at that time. The same restrictions apply throughout both seasons.
If Toronto opts for putting both players on end-of-season LTIR-just as it suggests-they’d miss out until next year completely. This means even if they’re within salary cap limits later on, activating either player wouldn’t happen anyway.
Injuries Could Force Decisions for Maple Leafs
The current state of injuries might push Toronto into action sooner than later. If GM Brad Treliving truly wants his team competitive this year, addressing these injuries becomes essential-likely meaning bringing another defenseman into play along with possibly adding a depth forward too.
The forward situation isn’t as pressing but bringing another blueliner seems critical right now given everything happening around them lately. Rumors have suggested Rasmus Andersson is high up on their wish list; however, it’s likely Calgary Flames won’t settle for what Toronto can offer in return for him.
The Maple Leafs may have to look into other options which aren’t as impressive but still viable alternatives available out there right now. Nevertheless, this club finds itself in quite a tough spot currently; unless some internal players really step up soon enough-the organization needs an incredible stroke of luck finding solutions amidst these numerous injuries piling up fast!
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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