It was bound to happen, the Salary Cap would hinder the Toronto Maple Leafs ability to re-sign key players or make key trades. COVID-19 has not helped the salary cap as it will only increase marginally over the next few years.
The big question coming into this season, can Toronto re-sign Morgan Rielly, will they have to trade him at some point or keep him the full year as their own rental and loose him as a free agent next summer.
Chris Johnston of the Toronto Star is reporting with the recent offseason signings of Seth Jones, Dougie Hamilton, Cale Makar and Zach Werenski, it is likely that Rielly’s AVV does not go any lower than $8 million/year and that is a term the Leafs cannot afford.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are projected to have a salary cap hit of $67.78 million invested in 14 players. Goalie Jack Campbell is set to become a UFA while defenseman Rasmus Sandin will be a restricted free agent in need of a new contract.
Will it come to the Leafs having to trade one of Mitch Marner or William Nylander next offseason to free up cap space, re-sign Rielly and maybe add a free agent or two?
